Starks: Ichthv(ilogical Survey ahout San Juan Islands. 205 



the specimens from Puget Smiiul are \cry rough in all the sizes here 

 represented, but in the smaller ones the scales are simply spined on 

 their posterior edges. In specimens six inches long a few scales on the 

 anterior part of the bod>- and head become covered with si)inules on 

 their upper surface. As the fish grows larger these spine-covered 

 scales extend over nearly the entire body. In the largest specimen 

 there is only a small space towards the ventral and dorsal edges of 

 the bod\" A\here the scales are simply ctenoid and not covered with 

 spinules. 



Jordan and Goss in their review of the llounders and soles (Rept. 

 U. S. Fish Comm., 1886, p. 286) make the following statement. 

 "Specimens from Puget Sound and northward are rougher than 

 southern specimens and constitute a slight geographical \ariety, 

 for which the name Lepidopsctta bilineata urnhrosa may be used." 



We have only a single specimen obtained south of Puget Sound, 

 a large example, sixteen inches in length, from San Francisco. This 

 is so very different from northern specimens that it appears scarcely 

 possible to refer it to the same species. However to pass definitely 

 on this question will necessitate the study of a number of individuals. 

 According to the laws which seem to govern the development of the 

 ctenoid scales in the form from Puget Sound, the form from San 

 Francisco Bay should grow rougher with size, but the scales of the body 

 are all perfectly devoid of spinules either on the surface or posterior 

 edge, except a very few (probably not exceeding half a dozen) scattered, 

 slightly ctenoid scales. On the upper part of the head and on the 

 cheek the scales are rough, with spinules on their surface. On the 

 opercle and subopercle most of the scales are cycloid. The color is 

 lighter and more broken uj) into light spots than in specimens from 

 Puget Sound, and the maxillary of the blind side is longer. 



Specimens from the north of Puget Sound likewise require study. 

 Some taken just south of the Alaskan Peninsula ("Albatross," Station 

 3215) have the eye larger than in any of the others (from the various 

 localities here mentioned). The upper eye is 6.5 hundredths of the 

 length, while in the others it is from 5 to 5.5 hundredths. Specimens 

 fromChignik Bay, Alaska, have the pectorals shorter than in any others. 

 The pectoral of the eyed side is from 1 1 to 12 hundredths of the length, 

 and on the blind side from 8 to 9 hundredths. In the others it is on 

 the eyed side from 13 to 15 hundredths, and on the blind side from 10 

 to II hundredths. Specimens from Xikalski, Bering Islands, have 



