14 CALIFOHNIA FISH AM) UAMK. 



KEY TO THE FISHES OF THE CROAKER FAMILY IN CALIFORNIA. 



I. Lo\\or jaw projecting bcyoud tip of suout, whicli is sharp. 



'2. Base of second dorsal fin about equal in length to base of anal fin. 

 Qiteenfsh or M^hifc Croaker, t^criphits politus. Page 115. 



2-2. Base of second dorsal fin very much longer than that of anal fin. 



3. Teeth at middle of upper jaw little if any enlarged. Pectoral fin 

 more than half the length of head. Its tip reaching about as far 

 back as tips of ventrals. White >^ea Bass. Cijnoscion noMUs. 

 Page 15. 



3-3. One or two long teeth pointing backward at the middle of upper 



jaw. Pectoral fin less than half the length of head. Its tip not 



reaching as far back as tips of ventrals. California Blucfish. 



Cynoscion parvipiitnis. Page IG. 



]-I. Til) of snout blunt and projecting beyond tip of lower jaw. 



4. A single short barbel or appendage at tip of lower jaw. 



5. A large thick spine at front of anal fin. The first spine of the 

 first dorsal niot longer than the spines just behind it. The tip of 

 the first dorsal rounded. Yellowfin Croaker. Umhrina roiica- 

 dor. Page 17. 



5-.J. No enlarged spine at front of anal fin. The first dorsal spine 

 longer than the others, making the tip of the first dorsal very sharp. 

 ('uliforiiia Whitiiiy. 3Ictitieirr]ni>i iinduJutiis. Page 17. 



4-4. No single barbel at tip of lower jaw. 



G. A large thick spine at front of anal fin. 



7. A large black spot on front of pectoral fin. Pectoral fin as 

 long as head, and reaching past tips of ventrals. Caudal fin 

 concave behind. Spotfin Croaker. Roneador stearnsi. 

 Page 18. 



7-7. No spot at front of pectoral, but a dark spot usually present 

 on hind edge of gill cover. Pectoral fin much shorter than 

 head and not reaching to tips of ventrals. Caudal fin not 

 concave l)ohiud. Black, or Chinese Croaker. Sciaenu sat- 

 iiniti. Page 1!). 



(i-(i. .No enlarged sii'iiie at front of anal fin. Kiiif/fish. (I< ni/oiiemvs 

 lineal Its. I'age 20. 



GLOSSARY. 



Anal I'm -. Tlu* .single tin on the lower side of the body towards the 

 tail. 



Barbel : A small fleshy projection or appendix. In these fishes it is 

 on the lower jaw. 



Caudal fin : The tail fin. 



Dorsal fin : The fin on the hack. In these fishes it is divided into 

 two fins: the first composed of spines, and hence called spinous dorsal; 

 the second composed of soft rays. 



Maxillary -. The flattened bone bordering the mouth above. 



Pectoral fin : The pair of fins, one on each side, situated close behind 

 the gill opening. 



Preopercvhim -. A bone of the gill cover that borders the cheek 

 behind. It is considerably in front of the liind edge of the gill cover, 

 and has a free edge. 



