COMMON MARINE FISHES 



123 



SAND DAB 



Citharichthys sordidus 



Relationship: A member of family Bothidae. (See page 122.) 



Distinguishing Characters: See page 122. The unsymmetrical ventral fins, that 

 on the eyed side being attached to the ridge of the abdomen ; the nearly straight 

 lateral line ; the lack of a doi-sal branch to the lateral line ; the large, loosely attached 

 scales ; the lower eye being longer than the snout ; the length of the pectoral on the 

 eyed side being less than the length of the head. Eyes on the left side of the body. 

 Length to a foot or more; weight to two pounds. Color: Various shades of tan or 

 brown, sometimes spotted or blotched with dull orange or black. 



Distribution: Alaska to Lower California. 



Fishing Season: Throughout the year. 



Importance: Forms about a tenth of the State's flatfish catch. Marketed fresh 

 and considered a delicacy. Landed chiefly at San Francisco and Eureka. 



Fishing Gear: Otter trawls. Taken on special set lines in Southern California. 



Unauthorized Name: Soft flounder. 



Note: Two other species of sand dab are fourifl in California but are of minor importance. One. Citharichthys 

 stipmaeus, ranges along the entire coast. Its lower eye is no longer than the snout and its pectoral fln is shorter 

 than Ihe head. The other. Citharichthys xanthostltjmus, occurs in Southern and Lower Calitornia and is distinguislied 

 by the pectoral fln which is longer than the head. 



