46 PROCZ^EDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Family STEOMATEID^. 



92. Stromateus simillimus Ayres. — Pompano. 



Entire coast j common, but most abundant from Santa Barbara to San 



Francisco. Its movements on the coast are very irregular. It is usually 



scarce in winter everywhere, and it is said that it was formeily much 



less abundant than now. It is taken in seines, and also by hook and 



line or grab-hook from the wharves. It is usually esteemed as the best 



pan-fish on the coast, and always brings a high price — 25 to 50 cents per 



pound. It reaches a length of 8 inches and a weight of little more than 



half a pound. 



Family CARANGID^. 



93. Seriola lalandi Cuvier & Valenciennes. — Yelloio Tail; White Salmon; Cavasina. 



{Seriola mazujtlana Steindacliner. ) 



Only about the Santa Barbara and Coronados Islands, where it is 

 abundant in summer, spawning in July and August; not seen in winter. 

 It is taken by trolling only. As a fresh fish it ranks high. When salted ' 

 it is graded as best, with Dekaya and Sphyrcmia. It feeds on squid and 

 various small fishes, and reaches a weight of 40 to 50 pounds and a 

 length of 4 to 5 feet. The "horse-mackerel, Halatractus dorsaUs^\ re- 

 ferred to by Dr. Cooper in Cronise's Natural Wealth of California, is 

 undoubtedly the present species. 



94. Caranx caballus Giintlier. 



{Trachurus hoops Grcl.) 



Only the original type of Girard's description has been taken on our 

 coast. 



95. Trachurus plumierianus (Lac(Spcde) J. & G. — Horse Mackerel. 



{Trachurus trachurus Giintlier; Trachurus symmetrieus Ayres.) 



Very abundant in summer as far north as Monterey. It is taken in 

 seines in large numbers and used chiefly for bait. Many of them are 

 salted for this purpose. It reaches a length of about a foot and a weight 

 of less than a pound. 



Specimens of this species from Monterey and from Venice are not ob- 

 viously different. The individual variations in the curvature of the lat- 

 eral line are considerable. 



Family SERRANID^. 



96. Serranus maculofasciatus Steindacliner. — Cabrilla; EochCod; Rock Bass. 

 San Pedro to San Diego and southward; abundant in the bays, 



especially at San Diego, where many are taken in seines, and with hook 

 and line from the wharves. Not seen northward and not found in deep 

 water or about the islands. It feeds chiefly on crustaceans and squid. 

 It reaches a length of about 15 inches and a weight of 2 or 3 pounds, 

 and is considered an excellent food-fish. 



