’ 
42 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
MAG LMOL monbh Ts s She 222, chee. See ees sorte Meanie eee eee ete SEOs .14 
WINE LEMOL CY ORE Manne sic ise cincie es -ese aot iiaecsle nears Se aap eRe ee Poso . 03 
Mistance from snout to first dorsal 2. 2p occ. scien os eee ences see . 62 
Length of base of first dorsal........---.---..--- pee RE RRL thre A cerny/ ot 28 . 08 
Wistance between dorsalser eter. scien eats sc asses ce eee seein cee eee . 09 
tenxth' of base of secondidorsale. eevee oa. -1oews so ase ome cee tee jo esae wise oats 05 
erehitof Second Carsal sje isae atte orci = Se neta winksln w cei SMe OE SRe Lae rea . 065 
Mena thrors base Of analeee: cc ceme cerenotebsam.iecacose moms meee eee ee . 065 
Iselin Oi RWENES Seas =24 Gg csssecuosono Mane Boo done sooseBocoaesSconosanous cent 08 
Mer tn vormeau als. reser ceaeie clei solssies ene oeiaisic oth amielsen ma acest ee eee .18 
Pen at hrotpectoralienccecwes ster coe cetera es cae c esses seers eee Tentyaios ee 
MOH pMOLVeNthalyamcesen ome ave cae sec ce teeta ae eater eae gee eee eels -11 
ON THE OFL-SHARK OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (GALEOREHINUS 
GALEWS). 
By DAVID 8S. JORDAN and CHARLES H. GILBERT. 
Along the coast of Southern California a large species of shark ap- 
pears in the spring in great schools. At certain places along the coast, 
especially about Newport Landing, in the southern part of Los Angeles 
County, the pursuit of this shark becomes a matter of considerable 
economic importance. They are taken easily with a hook, and sometimes 
great numbers of them may be surrounded and brought in with a seine. 
They are valued for their livers and fins. A single liver when the ani- 
mals first arrive, in March, will yield a gallon of oil. As much as 4,000 
gallons of this oil have been procured at Newport in a single season. 
The fins of this species are sold to the Chinamen, who find them a great 
delicacy, and pay for them 125 cents a pound. 
The present writers have succeeded in obtaining one of these ‘ oil- 
sharks,” and find the species to be the European tope, Galeorhinus 
galeus (Galeus canis and vulgaris of authors). It is singular that our 
only knowledge of the occurrence of this species on the west coast of 
America till now has been the indication by Dr. Giinther of the pres- 
ence in the British Museum of ‘0. Young. San Francisco. From Mr. 
Gruber’s collection.” Yet, in the waters of California south of Point 
Conception it is doubtless more numerous in individuals than all other 
species of sharks combined. 
Measurements of an adult male oil-shark. 
ILGTVGUMN . eos OSnbn des cba scouted ace secdeds sae ogSohe codsaos ceoteg on 63 inches = 1. 00 
IDyeyouilay (Padee HSIN) Baas Shee doe sso UsOS0D 4469505 BebSse ucemse Soc oeOuStS ro se5cse .14 
Length of head.......---- ¢ Sscse'e eesiSeiotewie stig Cas siete a oete aa ee ne ea oe .18 
Menethyor snout (below, sront mouth) 2e2-—- -.csenies== anaemia all . 075 
Length of snout (from eye) ......---.-.-...-- Be i SO Re See a Aen SOE . 08 
ANGLO: Cre MORIN oF Ay SSO eo EAD Geom mop mB OOO mene acho] Comp cob oC s coRSécuccoS 07 
ION AEP O1P iS) SLY 2) cise Man ane HEROD oe enon eer das 2 aes ea ce Se se . 0075 
IDWNMYE Ee OE ENS aa ocnc Hopman qe ae so Poona nOsoood Ssoecb ooooon cece secadgcn Saac . 025 
Distance from snout to first dorsal..---. esteneiis MOE Sopa needs sae soanoncso ASC5 .30 
eng thyorehasexotsursy 0 Onsale pecans sa) saielaeiee == —le eee ASO FSODOE aint aia waar 
