CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 



19 



croakers, a 1)1 unl snout oxtoiids over a horizontal month. The moutli 

 is moderate in size, and the maxillary reaches to helow the middle of 

 the eye. The preopcreulum is set with fine shai-p spines. The first 

 dorsal has stout spines and the second spine of the anal is enlarged, the 

 first spine heing, as usual, small. The pectoral is as long as the head, 

 and reaches considerably past the tips of the ventrals. The color is 

 grayish silvery, lighter below. Wavy dark lines follow the rows of 

 scales extending upwards and backwards. These are less conspicuous 

 than in the yellowfin roncador. Two dusky streaks usually run back 

 from the throat to the ventrals and thence to each side of the anal. 



This fish is abundant on the southern California coast, and, like most 

 of the others, has occasionally been taken as far north as San Fran- 

 cisco. It is of some importance as a food fish, and reaches a weight 

 of 5 or 6 pounds. 



The Black Croaker, or Chinese Croaker (Sciaena saturna). 



The following combination of characters will identify this fish from 

 its relatives : The snout blunt and projecting over the tip of the lower 

 jaw; no barbel at the cliin ; the second anal spine large and thick; no 



Fig. 12. The black cioaker (Scicrna satiiriui). 



black spot at base of pectoral; the pectoral shorter than the head and 

 not reaching to the tips of the ventrals. The mouth is small, the lower 

 jaw closes within the upper, and the maxillary reaches to below the 

 middle of the eye. The scales on the head are small, rough and uneven. 

 The preoperculum has a membranous edge that is divided into very fine 

 points which are scarcely noticeable without the aid of a magnifier. 

 The dorsal spines are rather stout, but not nearly so stout as the second 

 anal spine. The caudal is slightly convex, or with its middle rays the 

 longest. The color is dusky with reddish coppery reflections. A pale 

 band usually extends doAvnward from between the dorsals to opposite 

 the tips of the ventrals. This often fades with age. The lower parts 

 are silvery but dusted over and obscured by dark specks. The side of 

 the head is more brilliantly coppery color than elsewhere. The ventral 

 fins are dusky or black. A black spot is present at the edge of the gill 

 cover just above its angle. 



