ZOOLOGY. 411 



water, and then falling flat upon its belly, making a loud 

 splash very different from the porpoise, which also darts out 

 of the water, but always strikes head first, making little noise. 

 Some ichthyologists suppose that the object of the sturgeon in 

 thus falling on the water is to free itself from parasites ; 

 others, that it is merely a kind of play. The spawning-season 

 is not known precisely, but it is probably from December to 

 May. The meat of the sturgeon is coarse, and in the market 

 is worth only about one-fourth or one-sixth of that of the 

 better table fishes ; but the sturgeon fishery is profitable, be- 

 cause of the abundance and large size of the fish. 



332. Jewfish. The Jewfish, (Stereokpis gigas) one of 

 the largest scale-fishes, weighing sometimes five hundred 

 pounds is abundant south of Point Conception, and rarely 

 straggles as far north as San Francisco Bay. Only two have 

 been caught near the Golden Gate, and one of them filled the 

 city with wonder. It is a bottom fish, living in deep and shoal 

 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 Ibe taken with harpoons. 

 The meat is very good. 



333. Sunfish. The sunfish, (Orihagoriscus analis) 

 though not abundant, is frequently found south of Point Con- 

 ception, where it is seen floating on the surface, in accordance 

 with the habits of the genus everywhere. Its form suggests 

 the idea that the body has been cut off near the broadest part, 

 and the tail sewed on, and its usual weight ranges from fifty 

 to one hundred pounds. 



334. Green fish. The greenfish, (Opplomona 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 about two feet in length. The meat is 

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

 value. 



