THE SURF-FISHES 



Family L VII. Embiotocidce 



This is a large fiimily, all the species of which are viviparous. 

 The young are hatched within the body where they remain closely 

 packed in a sac-like enlargement of the oviduct analogous to the 

 uterus, until born. These foetal fishes bear at first little resem- 

 blance to the parent, being closely compressed and having the 

 vertical fins exceedingly elevated. At birth they are i| to 2^ 

 inches long, and similar to the adult in appearance, but more 

 compressed and red in colour. 



Since the discovery of their viviparity by Dr. Gibbons in 1854, 

 these fishes have been of special interest to zoologists. 



They are all fishes of our Pacific Coast, inhabiting bays and 

 the surf on sandy shores, excepting 2 species known from Japan. 

 Several of them are found in brackish water and one inhabits 

 freshwater streams. The different species reach a length of 6 to 

 18 inches and are usually very abundant wherever found. Though 

 extensively used for food, the flesh is rather tasteless and bony. 

 They feed chiefly upon small crustaceans and other invertebrates. 

 None of them ranks high as a game-fish, though most of the 

 species will take the baited hook and are able to make a fairly 

 good fight. Nearly all the species are handsome fishes, some of 

 them being very richly coloured. 



The surf-fish family contains 17 known genera with about 

 20 species, 2 of which occur only in Japan, all the others being 

 confined to the Pacific Coast of America. 



The only species which our space will permit us to- mention 

 are the following : 



469 



