THE SKIL-FISHES 



Family LXVIL Anoplopomidcs 



THIS family is closely allied to Hexagrammidce, from which 

 it differs chiefly in the normal development of the nostrils 

 which are formed as in fishes generally. There are 2 genera, 

 Anoplopoma and Erilepis, only the first of which is of any im- 

 portance. Its single species is A. fimbria, a very interesting fish 

 occurring on our Pacific Coast from Monterey Bay to Unalaska. 



It is the beshow, coal-fish, or skil of that coast, reaches a 

 length of 1 8 inches, and is used to some extent as food, though 

 the flesh is rather dry and tasteless. About the Straits of Fuca 

 it becomes very fat and is said to be highly appreciated. 



498 



