36 



ATHERINIDJ5. 



A small family, with two distinct, small dorsal fins, the first composed of five to seven weak 

 spines; ventrals" abdominal; teeth feeble; scales smooth ; a silvery band along the sides. 



Chirostoma californiensis, Girard, Smelt — This species, together 

 with the following, and three species of small Salmonoids mentioned 

 further on, are all sold in the markets and peddled in the streets of 

 San Francisco under the name of smelt. All are taken in the bay, 

 and all are abundant, but the two Atherinidse are far more so in indi- 

 viduals than any of the Salmonoids sold under that name, and exceed 

 them still more in quantity. The present species is much larger 

 than its relation, reaching a length of seventeen inches, and may be 

 distinguished by its larger head, more slender form of body, larger 

 mouth, and the central position of the first or spinous dorsal. It is 

 probably the most common of the fishes of the bay, Atherinops 

 affinis alone rivaling it in this respect. Both species are excellent 

 eating, but in this respect are inferior to the salmonoid smelts sold 

 with them. The two Atherinoids may be readily distinguished from 

 the salmonoids by the presence of two dorsal fins, the first very 

 small, placed about in the center of the length of the back, and 

 formed of spines of stiff rays, the second rather larger, and separated 

 by an interval from the first. Their prevailing color is light green, 

 but a silvery band runs along each side. 



Atherinops affinis, Ayres, Steindachner — In Atherinops affinis the dor- 

 sal is nearly its own length further back than in Chirostoma califor- 

 niensis, the form of the body is much stouter, the head proportionally 

 smaller, the mouth smaller, the fins larger, and the flesh firmer. Dr. 

 Ayres states that this species never exceeds eight inches in length, and 

 this size must be but rarely attained, as the specimens I have seen in 

 our markets seldom pass six inches, while A. californiensis usually 

 exceeds twice that length. Like the last species it is extremely abun- 

 dant throughout the year. A large proportion of the small fishes 

 wasted by being thrown upon the shore by the fishermen belong to 

 this species ; but mingled with them are the young of the last species, 

 quantities of EngrauUs ringens, and a proportion of true smelts and 

 small flat-fishes. The Chinese dry these small fry in large quantities, 

 on matting spread in the sun, turning and tending them carefully. 

 When dried they are gathered up, trodden down into large sacks, and 

 exported to the Flowery Kingdom. Not only is the mouth propor- 

 tionally smaller than in the preceding species, but there is only a 

 single row of teeth in the jaws, each tooth two-pointed, 



MUGILID^. 



Mugil mexicanus {f), Steindachner — Several specimens of a species of 

 Mugil, evidently very close to the above species, if not identical with 

 it, have found their way to our markets in the months of September 

 and October. All of them were taken near Santa Cruz, in the Bay 

 of Monterey. 



The specimens examined agree with Mugil mexicanus in the number 

 of scales in the lateral line, and of rays in the vertical fins; in the 

 length of the latter, in the produced upper caudal lobe, and in the 

 proportions of the body and head. And I should not hesitate to pro- 

 nounce them to be of that species were it not that Mr. B. B. Redding, 

 one of the Fish Commissioners for the State of California, has 



