Paralabrax 



The known species of this genus are confined to the coasts of 

 tropical America, where they are important food-fishes. There are 4 

 within our limits. Paralabrax nebiilifer, the johnny-verde, occurs on 

 our Pacific coast from Monterey to Lower California. It is generally 

 common in shallow water, reaches 18 inches in length, and is a food- 

 fish of excellent quality. Its colour is greenish, with irregular pale and 

 dark mottlings and traces of dark oblique cross-bars; suborbital and 

 cheek profusely marked with round orange spots; a dark streak down- 

 ward and backward from eye; lower side of head salmon colour; 

 lower side of tail with wavy whitish streaks. 



-^. » .--^mm&ii 



The spotted cabrilla, P. macnlatofasciattis, occurs from San Pedro, 

 California, to Mazatlan and in the Gulf of California. It is everywhere 

 common on sandy shores, and is an excellent food-fish, reaching a 

 length of 18 inches. 



Colour, olive-brown, thickly covered everywhere above with dark 

 hexagonal or roundish spots, so close together that the ground colour 

 appears as reticulations around them; these spots more or less con- 

 fluent on the back, and more distinct and tinged with orange on sides 

 of head, branchiostegals, and on base of pectorals; about 7 dusky 

 cross-bars on side, in which the spots are deeper in colour and more 

 confluent; a bluish stripe from eye across cheek; lower parts yellow; 

 dorsal and caudal with bronze spots. 



P. Inimeralis is found from Panama southward. It reaches 2 or 3 

 feet in length, is found in rather deep water, and is a valuable fish. 



P. clathratits, the rock-bass of the California coast, occurs from 

 San Francisco southward to Cerros Island. It is the most common 

 species of the genus in those waters, reaches a length of 18 inches and 



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