THE ANBFAL LIFE OF TTTH (iROFP. 369 



least resembles a bass passes as one among this class of tishci-men. As a 

 matter of fact, there ar<' lint five species belonging lo as )iiaiiy iicin'ra n\' iIk; 

 sea-bass-*' family that have so far been taken from Hawaiian watcis. h is 

 trne that it requires some skill to deteet the characteristics 1hat s('i)ai-a1(' the 

 cardinal-fishes on the one hand and the catalufas and snapjx'rs on Ihc other. 

 If the fish in hand shonhl pro\-e to have three and only lliree stiff, strong spines 

 in the anal fin and be bass or perch-like in form, the chances are it would [irove 

 to l)e a time liass. However, it wonld then re(piii'e mneh consulting of author- 

 ities to prove the specific identity of the species, as the matter is fni'ther 

 complicated by a disagreement in popular nomenclature as to whetlier it 

 should be called a Jew-fish, a grouper, or a hind. 



The liainFu i>n 'u '^'^ is the most important and conniion species in the 

 market, where specimens three feet or more in length are not uncommon. It 

 is a dark pnr])]ish-brown fish Avith occasional irregular pearly spots on the 

 sides and with l)lacl< ventral fins, though in old specimens the spots disa])pear, 

 leaving the fish a uniform reddish leather-brown. They are usually cauglit 

 with a hook and are the only species of the bass family conimonl\- known by a 

 Hawaiian name. 



One might naturall\- ex{)ect that the ocean about these islands would \)o 

 inhabited by representatives of almost every type of animal to be found in the 

 sea anywlier(\ However, the announcement of the discovery of the presence 

 of the sea-devil -" family close at liand will come in the nature of a surprise 

 to many. That the creature was a new species and called for the creation of a 

 new genus is made plain from its description. Avhich. briefiy put. characterizes 

 it as an inky black animal with small eyes, a white mouth and a protruding 

 chin. Any fear and uneasiness that may have been felt at the discovery of a 

 member of this satanic family about the islands will be allayed somewhat Avhen 

 it is known that the only specimen of the genus ever discovered is h^ss than 

 fo.ur inches long and was dredged from the fioor of the ocean under .">()() 

 fathoms of water. 



Snappers. 



The snai)per family ^" is represented in Hawaii by seven or eight important 

 food fish. As has been stated, they closely resemltle the sea-bass. One fa- 

 miliar with the characteristics of tlie two fanulies. however, will be able to 

 point out that in the snappers "the maxillary slips along its edge into a sheath 

 formed by the broad end of the pre(U'bital. "" ^vhile the sea-bass have no siich 

 sheath. 



The eight species are all fairly abundant. carui\-orous. voracious, gamey. 

 excellent liigh-colored fish, and all are known at the marekt by Hawaiian 

 names. The ukikiki ■'^ is a fairly common red fish ^\•itll diagonal golden cross- 

 bands. It is a fine, firm. whiTe-lleshed fish especially suitable for b.-dcing. The 



'•'~ i^erraiiifhr. "'* E /liin iilnliis f/ufnuin. ^^' Ceratiida'. *" Lutin»idir. 



■" Roosf relti ( A psiliix ) lirii/hiinii. 



