CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 



61 



depth of the body. The eye is covered with a transparent, thiclvened 

 membrane. The color is bright silver with each scale on the back hav- 

 ing a large brown spot. 



This fish is more nearly round in section (cigar-shaped) than are 

 other members of its family on our coast, the width of the body being 

 about two-thirds of the depth. Next in order in this respect is the 



Fig. 36. The Japanese herring (Btniiiieiis microps). 



sardine, which i.s considerably plumper than the herring, and deepest 

 of all is the shad, which is very much deeper than wide. 



The Japanese herring is a common species in the Hawaiian Islands 

 and in Japan. Specimens have been taken at San Diego, and a few 

 years ago two specimens were sent to Stanford University from that 

 locality with the statement that it was not rare in certain seasons. It 

 should be looked for and its appearance and abundance reported to 

 the State Fish and Game Commission. 



The Sardine (Sardinia caerulea). 



The sardine may be known by the opercle having a few raised lines 

 or ridges running obliquely downward, the head longer than the depth 

 of the body, and the breast and belly not drawn to a sharp, saw-toothed 

 edge. The ventral fins are under the base of the dorsal fin, and the 

 base of the anal fin is twice or more times longer than the diameter of 

 the eye. The maxillary reaches to below the middle of the eye. The 



Fig. 37. The sardine (Sardinia cccruica). 



color is bluish on the upper parts and bright silvery below with metallic 

 reflections. A series of large dark spots is usually present along the 

 side, but often they are absent, especially in large inclividuals. 



The sardine occurs in great abundance along the entire west coast 

 of the United States and southward on the coast of Lower California. 

 It is taken the year around and is especially abundant from Septem- 



