("ALIFOHMA KlSri AND (JAMF!. 



17 



probably not exceeding a couple of feet in length, and it is said to be 

 much inferior to it. Its flesh is soft and it does not bear transportation 

 well. It is found from southern California southward along the coast 

 of Lower California. 



The name bluefish as applied to this species probably is on account of 

 its color, and not because it is thought to be the same as the famous 

 bluefish of the Atlantic. The latter is a very different fish, not at all 

 related to this species. 



The Yellowfin Croaker (Umbrina roncador). 



This fish may be known from its relatives b.y a sliort fleshy barbel, 

 or appendage, that projects from the chin, and, in addition, by a large 

 thick spine at the i'nmt of the anal fin. The enlarged spine is the 

 second anal spine, there being a very short one in front of it. Its snout 

 is blunt and projects over and above the tip of the lower jaw. The 

 mouth is nearly horizontal, and the maxillary reaches to under the 

 middle of the eye. The edge of the lione that bounds the cheek behind 



Fig. 9. 'riic yollow-fin croaker ( i'liihriiui roncador). 



(preoperculum) is set with fine spines. The spinous dorsal is triangu- 

 lar in shape but rounded at its upper angle at the points of the first 

 spines. The pectorals are I'ather short and do not reach as far back as 

 the ventrals do. The caudal is concave behind ; and the upper lobe is 

 longer than the lower. Brassy and golden reflections overlie the silvery 

 color. The back is bluish, and over the back and sides are many Avavy 

 dark lines that extend upward and backward following the rows of 

 scales. The fins are mostly yellow. 



This fish reaches a length of 15 or 16 inches, and it is rather common 

 on the southern California coast. Its range extends southward into the 

 Gulf of California while an occasional one strays northward as far as 

 San Francisco. Jt is a very good food fish, and is caught in considerable 

 abundance by the anglers on the piers and beaches of southern Califor- 

 nia. It is a very handsome fish when it is first drawn from the water, 

 Iiut its iridescent colors soon fade. 



The California Whiting or Corvina ( Menticirrhus undtilatus). 



This is a well mai-ked fish that may be known by a fleshy barbel, or 

 appendage, that projects from the chin, the fir.st dorsal spine longer than 



