The Rockfishes 



more important species will be mentioned here. Sehastodes pau- 

 cispinis, the bocaccio, large and swift, is abundant in California. 

 Sehastodes flavidiis, the yellowtail rockfish, reaching a length of 

 2 feet, is one of the most valuable species. It is abundant from 

 San Francisco to San Diego. 



S. mystinus, the black rockfish, is the most abundant species 



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in rather shallow water about San Francisco. Another abundant 

 species is the orange rockfish, S. pinniger, found from Puget 

 Sound to San Diego. It reaches 2 feet in length and is a com- 

 mon market-fish; and the rasher, S. miniatus, is another 

 important species reaching a length of 2 feet and abun- 

 dant from San Francisco to San Diego. The red rockfish, 

 S. ruberrimus, is the largest species of all, reaching a length of 

 2^ feet. It is abundant from San Diego to Puget Sound, and is 

 a valued food-fish. Another important species is the yellow-backed 

 rockfish, 5. maliger, which is found from Monterey to Sitka. It 

 is especially abundant northward, and reaches nearly 2 feet in 

 length. The Spanish flag, Sehastodes ruhrovinctus, banded red and 

 white, IS perhaps the handsomest sea-fish in our waters. Full 

 descriptions of all the species of this genus, 50 in number, may be 

 found in our "Fishes of North and Middle America." 



497 



