49 



is a widely distributed fish, occurriug in both the great oceans. Single individuals occasionally 

 find their way to this market, probably from Monterey Bay. 



Cl'upea mirabilis, Girard, Herring — This species may be known 

 from the succeeding one by the projecting lower jaw, deeper and 

 thinner body, and by the absence of conspicuous striations upon the 

 gill-covers. It comes into the market in September and continues 

 in season until late in the spring. North of Puget Sound it is said to 

 occur throughout the year, and shoals visit various points upon the 

 coast of California during the rainy season. The business of curing 

 the fish is not extensive, and the dried fish is said to be inferior to 

 that of the Atlantic herring, though it is probable that the inferiority 

 is mainly in the method of preparation. 



Clupea sagax, Jenyns, Sardine — This is a thicker, less deep, and 

 somewhat longer fish than the last, the jaws are equal in length or 

 nearly so, and present no trace of teeth, and the operculum has con- 

 spicuous radiating striae, descending towards the sub-operculum. 

 The form of the ridges on the upper surface of the head is also very 

 diff'erent. The colors are exceedingly intense in the fresh fish, bluish- 

 purple predominating, and there is a row of dark spots along each 

 side. It is in season during the summer and winter, and is taken in 

 the Bay of San Francisco. 



Engraulis ring ens, Jenyns, Anchovy — A species exceedingly common 

 in the bay, and extending along a great part of the Pacific Coast of 

 America. By the large mouth, with the upper jaw projecting beyond 

 the lower, the present genus may be at once known from Clupea, and 

 the present species is the only one of the genus which I have yet 

 recognized in our markets. Although so near to the highly esteemed 

 anchovy of Europe this fish does not appear to be in great favor, judg- 

 ing from the large number which are wasted by the fishermen, but it 

 is at least usefulas forming a large proportion of the food of the flat- 

 fishes; if I may judge from the fact that I have found it in the 

 stomachs of three species of that tribe. As the Pleuronectidse live on 

 the bottom, I presume that the anchovy is also an inhabitant of the 

 lower strata of the water. Abundant though this species is, it is not 

 cured or preserved in any way, but I am told that an abortive efibrt 

 in this direction was once made. 



SUBOKDEK, EVENTOGNATHI. 



The Eventognathi of Professor Gill, or Cyprinida: of the older authors, are chiefly distinguished 

 by the total absence of teeth upon jaw, vomer, or palatines, the only teeth they possess being those 

 upon the pharyngeal bones at the entrance of the sesophagus. They are without a spinous dorsal 

 or anal sjjine. The scales are cycloid, and in many cases of large size ; there is no adipose dorsal 

 fin, and the surface of the head is without scales. They are inhabitants of fresh water, and 

 occur in both the eastern and western hemispheres. The family Catostomida\ or suckers, is 

 almost peculiar to America, and several of its species occur in California, although but one is 

 brought in sufficient quantity to the markets of this city to be worthy of mention as a food 

 fish. 



Species of the true Cyprinidoe abound in the waters of this State, and several are brought to 

 market with tolerable frequency; others more rarely. None of them, however, are very highly 

 prized for food. 



The Catostomidoe are distinguished by a mouth opening more or less downwards and fur- 

 nished with conspicuous fleshy lips, the intermaxillaries, and by lower pharyngeal teeth in a 

 single series— numerous, closely-set, comb-like, across the bone. There are no barbels, and the 

 air bladder is large, divided into two or three portions by transverse constrictions. 



The CyprinidcB are without the thick, fleshy lips which characterize the last family; the 

 pharyngeal teeth are few in number, rarely more than seven on each side, but often in two or 

 three series. Barbels are often developed upon the lower jaw, and the air bladder is usually 

 divided into an anterior and a posterior lobe. 



7' 



