4 CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME. 



1. THE GUITAR FISHES 



{Finndy Uhlnohaliihi) . 



The Guitar Fish (Rhinobatus productus). 



This is often called shovelnosed shark, especially on the southern 

 coast. This name should be discouraged, as it is not a shark, and as 

 we already have a shark {Hexanchus) known by this name. 



Fig. 



Tlie guitar fish Rhinobatus productus. Adult male. 



The guitar fish is not much expanded and disk-like, being sharply 

 M'edge-shaped in front and tapering into a thick tail behind. Two 

 dorsal fins and a caudal fin are well developed. The body is covered 

 with shagreen and there are rows of hooked spines along the middle 

 line of the back and tail, and a small bunch at the shoulder. The young 

 fish has small spines around the inner border of the e^'e and along the 

 rostral ridges. The color is uniform dull brow^nish on the upper surface 

 and white on the lower. 



This fisli is found from San Francisco to San Diego and southward. 

 South of Point Conccpcion it is very common. It reaches a length of 

 3 or 4 feet. 



rig 3. 'I'lie prickly skate Zapteryx cxasperatus. Young female. 



