26 



COTTID^. 



Spinous dorsal shorter than the soft dorsals, separate body without true scales, but often with 

 prickles or scale-like jjlates. 



ScorpocnichfJtys marmoratus, Girard, Large Red Sculpin, or Bull- 

 head — Despite the absence of scales upon its body, this species is com- 

 monly styled a rock-cod. While its nearest relations, the smaller 

 sculpins, or catfish, as they are often called here, are thrown away by 

 the fishermen, this large sculpin is allowed a place among our food 

 fishes. A priori one would expect the other sculpins to begood food, 

 and I am assured by those who have tried them that they are; all 

 they need is skinning before cooking. Although tolerably common 

 within the Bay of San Francisco, and very frequently taken by the 

 angling fraternity upon Oakland wharf and in similar situations, 

 this species is only occasionally brought to market, and then only in 

 small quantities. 



Under the name of Hemitripterus marmoratus, this species was 

 described by Dr. Ayres, in the Proceedings of California Academy 

 of Sciences, vol. 1, p. 4. 



Scorijocniclithys marmoratus is sometimes called a rock-cod, at others 

 a bull-head; the latter name being also applied to other cottoids with 

 depressed heads. It reaches a length of two feet or more. Several 

 smaller cottoids are brought to market occasionally, more by acci- 

 dent than design. These are Hemilepidotus spinosus, a species with 

 four bands of scales; Leptocottus armatus, the common yellow sculpin 

 of the Bay of San Francisco, Aspicottus bison, Artedius lateralis, Arte- 

 dius pugettensis, and a species, probably new to science, which I have 

 described under the name of Artedius quadriseriatus. None of these 

 are used to any extent as food, yet Leptocottus armatus is sufficiently 

 common in this bay to be so used, if the prejudice against its appear- 

 ance could be conciuered. 



SCIGENID^. 



In this family the body is compressed and rather elongated; dorsal fins, two sometimes 

 slightly connected, the first consisting of not very strong spines, and less developed than the 

 second, or soft dorsal; teeth of the jaws in villiform bands, none on the vomer, or palate; 

 scales ctenoid, but not very strongly so. Other characters are a continuous lateral line, gener- 

 ally one or two anal spines; the presence in most cases of barbels, or pores, under the chin; 

 bones of skull more or less cavernous; and usually a large air bladder. Chiefly marine. 



Atractoscion nobilis, Ayres, Gill, Sea Bass — This is one of the most 

 valuable of our food fishes, since it grows to a large size, and is of 

 most excellent flavor. Its usual dimensions are those of an ordinary 

 salmon, but it frequently attains a larger size, a large individual 

 reaching a weight of seventy or even ninety-five pounds, and a length 

 of five feet. It is taken in the bay, and at various points along the 

 coast, north and south. Ayres states that Captain Scammon found it 

 abundant as far south as latitude 27°. In our markets it is some- 

 times plentiful, but the supply is very uncertain, even when it is in 

 season. During the months of November, December, and January, 

 to February 20th, I did not meet with a single individual, but in 

 October, and from March to September, it has been of tolerably 

 frequent occurrence. " Sea Bass," boiled and baked, is a constant 

 dish at the restaurants of the city, but examination shows that much 

 of that sold at the cheaper restaurants is sturgeon. In color, it is of 

 a clear grayish blue, with metallic blue and golden reflections on the 



