3 J 4 Life in the Open 



bonito, barracuda, flying-fish, and many more ; and at 

 times a thresher shark or a big tuna swims against the 

 barricade. The former at once whirls over and over, in- 

 volving the net in ruin, while the tuna dashes through, 

 making a round hole. The seine is hauled in the surf 

 on the mainland in various places, and surf fish, halibut, 

 and others taken. 



The surf fishes are particularly interesting, as they 

 belong to a peculiar group in which the young are born 

 alive. The latter, which I have kept in a tank, are most 

 interesting little creatures, very tame, feeding from the 

 hand, and schooling like sardines. No more interesting 

 locality in which to fish and study fishes can be found 

 than in the waters off the coast of Southern California, 

 as it appears to be a sort of neutral zone where fishes 

 meet from widely separated regions, from Hawaii to 

 Mexico and beyond. It is also the breeding ground for 

 many fishes, and the resort of countless wild sea roamers, 

 as bonito, mackerel, tuna, sunfish, dolphin, and many 

 more which can be found here in the various seasons. 



