124 CHANNEL ISLANDS OF CALIFORNIA 



It is always in evidence, and though a rock-lover it 

 is to be seen in great numbers on sandy bottoms. 

 Whenever the launch stopped and bait was thrown 

 over, they could be seen coming from every direction. 

 I accord this Pimelodus a high place among the really 

 game fishes. It is peculiar to Southern and Lower 

 California, and is the fish of the people. It attains a 

 weight of twelve or fifteen pounds, and for long rushes 

 and sustained fighting I know of none better. 



The sheepshead has an interesting personality. The 

 male and female difi:er very materially in appearance, 

 which is unusual. The young is a beautiful little 

 creature, with dainty coloring and tints of blue and 

 scarlet, and eyes like gems. Did you ever interest 

 yourself in the eyes of fishes? The rock bass and the 

 Californian sculpin have rubies, emeralds, and sap- 

 phires for eyes; and so has the little sheepshead, v/hile 

 its motions are a symphony in graceful action. The 

 female resembles somewhat a black bass, but is longer, 

 and may be white, red, mottled, black, or gray. The 

 male is a huge dome-headed fellow, with black and 

 vermilion streaks, a big mouth, sheep-like tusks, and 

 a vivid white lower jaw; with eyes that roam about 

 comically — altogether a wise old fellow for a fish. 

 In an aquarium he becomes very tame. One kept 

 for years, and known as Pat, in the Avalon aquarium, 

 would rise to have the keeper scratch his head, during 

 which process he changed color. This had a wonderful 

 effect on the average observer, who did not associate 

 the color change with the head-scratching, and so put 

 Pat down as a very remarkable fish that would blush 

 when the keeper told him to. Pat was such a fighter, 

 as are all male sheepsheads, that if another fish 



