PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 49 



110. Roncador stearnsi (Steiud. ) J. & G. — Roncador ; Croaker. 



From Santa Barbara southward ; generally abundant on sandy shores, 

 in rather deeper water than the TJmhrina. Taken chiefly in the gill- 

 nets. It feeds mostly on Crustacea, and spawns in July. It reaches a 

 length of about 2 feet and a weight of 5 or 6 jDOuuds. It is considered 

 a good food-fish. 



111. Corvina saturna (Grd.) Gtlir. — Red Roncador ; Black Roncador. 



From Santa Barbara southward ; in similar situations with the pre- 

 ceding, but less abundant. It reaches a length of 16 to 18 inches and a 

 weight of 3 pounds. Like the Menticlrrus it is less attractive in color 

 than Umbrina and Roncador ^ but is probably similar in flesh. 



112. Geiiyonemus lineatus (Ayres) Gill. — HtUe Bass ; Little Roncador. 



From San Francisco southward; not common in winter, but exces- 

 sively abundant in summer, especially from Santa Barbara northward. 

 It lives between the shore and the kelp, and is taken with hook and line 

 at the border of the kelp, and also in great numbers in seines. Its food 

 is chiefly Crustacea. It reaches a length of less than a foot and a weight 

 of nearly a pound. It is rather soft, and not much valued as ^ood, al- 

 though excellent when fresh. Many are dried by the Chinese. 



Family EMBIOTOCID^. 



(Perch; Surf -fish.) 



The fishes of this family are exceedingly abundant along our entire 

 Pacific coast, the centre of distribution being from Santa Barbara to 

 San Francisco. They all go by the general name of i)erch, and the fish- 

 ermen rarely make any distinction of the species. All are ovovi viparous, 

 bringing forth their young, 15 to 20 at a time, in spring or early sum- 

 mer. The young are then 1^ to 2^ inches in length, and i^erfectly able 

 to take care of themselves. At birth they closely resemble the adult fish, 

 but are redder, more compressed, and with higher fins. The flesh of the 

 Embiotocoids is very similar in all the species, being flavorless and poor. 



113. Rhacochilus toxotes Agassiz. — Alfione; Sprat; Perch. 



San Pedro to San Francisco; rather common, especially about Soquel. 

 Like the other species of the family, it feeds on Crustacea and small fish. 

 This species is the largest of the family, reaching a weight of 1 pounds, 

 and is considered the best of this very inferior group. 



114. Damalichthys argyrosomus (Girard) J. & G. — White Perch. 



From San Pedro to Puget Sound; generally common and exceed- 

 ingly abundant in Puget Sound ; next to Bitrema laterale and Micro- 

 metrus aggregatus, the species most numerous in individuals on the 

 coast. It is considered as, next to the preceding, the best of the Urn- 

 biotocidce, and reaches a weight of 2 pounds. 



Proc. Kat. Mus. 81 4 April 30, 1881. 



