144 KESOUKCES OF CALIFORNIA. 



water, and frequenting lagoons and kelp. It often comes to 

 the surface, and, according to report, goes to sleep there. It 

 bites readily at the hook, and may be taken with harpoons. 

 The meat is very good. 



§116. Sim-Fish — The sun-fish (Orthagoriscus analis) is 

 found occasionally south of Point Conception, where it is seen 

 fl(jating on the surface, in accordance with the habits of the 

 genus everywlrere. It weighs from one to a hundred pounds. 

 Its form suggests the idea that the body has been cut off near 

 the broadest part, and the tail sewed on. 



§ 117. Green- Fish. — The green-fish i^Opploraona pantheri- 

 na)^ generally called cod in the San Francisco market, but 

 having no relationship to the true cod, is abundant along the 

 coast. It grows to be about two feet in length. The meat is 

 coarse, and green in color; and the fish has little commercial 

 value. 



§ 118. SeaSass. — The sea-bass (Johnius nohilis) is a plaiu, 

 oval fish, bluish-gray in color above, silvery below, weighing 

 from fifteen to forty pounds. It is closely related to the weak- 

 fish of the New York market. The meat is white and deli- 

 cate, and always commands a high price in the market. It is 

 a surface-fish, and sometimes enters the bays, but is not abun- 

 dant anvwhere. It is caus-ht from March to November. 



§ 119. Sheepshead. — The Californian sheepshead (Lahrus 

 pulcher) is a black fish, with a broad, bright-red band sur- 

 rounding the body, and weighs from one to twelve pounds. 

 It has white, broad, projecting teeth, like those of a sheep. It 

 has no relationship to the Atlantic sheepshead, but is a conge- 

 ner of the black-fish of the New York market. The meat has 

 a very fine flavor when fresh, but loses its delicacy after being 

 dead a day or two. It is found south of Point Conception, 

 on rocky and kelpy bottoms, from April to October. Its food 

 is chiefly shell-fish. 



§ 120. Smelts. — We have four species of fish called smelts 

 [Atherinopsis californiensis., Atherinopsis affi?iis^ Osmerus 

 2Jreciosi(s, and Osmerus si7nilis). The Atherinoi^ses are not 



