46 



species is abundant from Santa Barbara southward, on sandy shores; 

 feeds on Crustacea, squid, etc., and spawns in July. It reaches about 

 a foot in length and two pounds in weight. Many are taken in 

 seines and gill nets. It is considered a food fish of good quality, and 

 at San Pedro many are split and salted. 



Genyonevius lineatus, King-fish, Little Bass, Little Roncador — 

 This species ranges southward at least to San Pedro, but is most 

 abundant northward, especially in summer, becoming scarce in 

 winter. It lives between the shore and the kelp, and is taken with 

 hook and line at the border of the kelp, as well as in great numbers 

 in seines. Crustacea form its principal food. Many are dried by 

 the Chinese. The flesh is rather soft. 



Roncador stearnsii, Croaker, Roncador — Abuudant from Santa 

 Barbara southward, on sandy shores, in rather deeper water than 

 Umbrina xanti, and taken chiefly in gill nets. It feeds mostly on 

 Crustacea, spawns in July, and reaches a length of two feet, and a 

 weight of five or six pounds. It is considered a good food fish. 



Corvma saturna, Black Roncador — This fish has the same range 

 and occurs in similar situations- with the preceding, but is less 

 abundant, and smaller, not exceeding eighteen inches in length, and 

 about three pounds in weight. It is less attractive in color than 

 Umbrina and Roncador. This species may be recognized by its dark 

 gray color, bluft' snout, and short body. 



Seriphus politus, King-fish, Queen-fish — Rare at San Francisco, 

 but more abundant southward, along sandy shores. It is taken in 

 seines, especially at Santa Barbara and Soquel. Although in flavor 

 probably the best of the small iScisenoids, its small size — seldom more 

 than eight inches — causes it to be but little valued. 



FAM. PERCIDiE — PERCH. 



This family has been divided and subdivided into numerous 

 groups, and it now appears likely a reunion may be established. 

 The Sparidse, which have the hinder end of the maxillary hidden 

 behind the suborbital in the closed mouth, and are furnished 

 either with cutting incisors in front of the jaws, or grinding molers 

 at the side, seem at first very distinct, but they are linked by such 

 forms as the Pristipomatidse with the more typical Percoids. As only 

 nine species are yet known upon our coast, it will be as well to con- 

 sider them all as Percidse. 



Girella nigricans, Blue-fish — This appears to be the only sparoid 

 fish found on the coast of Upper California. It occurs but rarely 

 in the markets of San Francisco, where it is brought from the Bay 

 of Monterey, Its proper range ends near Point Concepcion, north- 

 ward of which those found are only stragglers, while southward it is 

 abundant. 



It may be recognized by its curious three pointed, or rather three 

 lobed teeth. In form it is an elongated oval, and in color an almost 

 uniform brackish olive. It is abundant about- Santa Barbara, where 

 it is usually taken in gill nets, and is an important food fish. 



It is entirely herbivorous in its habits, and is very tenacious of life. 

 Soon after death the flesh begins to soften. It reaches a length of 

 about a foot, and a weight of four pounds. 



IScoryis californiensis, Moon-fish — Exceedingly rare, though this 

 species is at San Francisco, it becomes abundant south of Point Con- 



