66 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



238. Gadus morrhua L. — Alaska Cod. 



Straits of Fiicaaiid nordiward; ubuudant ou certain bauks; probably 

 occurring off the coast of Oregon. 



239. PoUachius chalcogrammus (Pallas) J. & G. 



( Gadus periscopns Cope. ) 



Monterey and northward ; occasionally taken with hook in deep water 

 about Seattle with Bathy master signatns; very rare about San Fran- 

 cisco. It reaches a length of about -J feet. 



240. Merlucius productus (Ayres) Gill. — Merhtcdo ; Ilorse Mackerel. 



Santa Cruz Island northward ; very abundant at certain seasons, 

 especially at its spawning time in the spruig, when it is takeu in great 

 numbers in the gill-nets at Monterey, Soquel, and elsewhere. Its dis- 

 tribution is irregular, being very abundant some years but at other 

 times extremely scarce. It is extremely voracious, feeding on all sorts 

 of small fishes and squids, its stomach being always full. It ranks low 

 as a market fish, as its flesh is extremely soft, and it is always ragged- 

 looking when shipped. It reaches a length of rather more than 2 feet 

 and a weight of JO pounds. 



Family PLEURONECTID^. 



241. Atheresthes stomias J. & G. 



San Francisco and northward; the only specimens taken by us were 

 from between Point Eeyes and the Farallones. It reaches a length of 

 30 inches and a weight of 5 or C pounds, being probably the slenderest 

 flounder known. 



242. Hippoglossus vulgaris Flemiag. — Halibut. 



From San Francisco northward; not abundant south of the Straits of 

 Fuca. There is a large halibut bank near Cape Flattery, and consider- 

 able luimbers are taken in the deeper channels of the sound by medJns 

 of hook and line. It reaches a length of 5 or 6 feet and a weight of 200 

 pounds or more. It feeds on codfish and any other large lish which it 

 can take. Its flesh is much esteemed. 



243. Xystreurys liolepis J. &- G. 



Santa Barbara and southward; not very rare, in moderately deep 

 water and about the kelp. It reaches a length of about 14 inches and 

 a weight of a little over 2 pounds. 



244. Paralichthys maculosus Gicl. — Monterey HaJihut ; Bastard Halibut; Flounder. 



( JJropsetta californica Gill.) 



Tomales Bay southward; abundant from Monterey to San Diego, 

 being the most abundant flounder south of Point Concepcion, the young 

 swarming in all the bays, the adult comparatively rare. It reaches a 

 length of nearly 3 feet and a weiglit of 60 pounds, the largest seen by 



