56 



bers as the two preceding smelts. It reaches six to eight inches long' 

 and from its smaller size and softer flesh is less valued than the 

 eulachon or surf-smelt. It rarely comes to San Francisco market in 

 very good condition, and hence is less salable than the spurious 

 smelts, of the family Atherinidse.. 



OsmerusaUenuatus, Slender Smelt — iVbout equal in size to the preced- 

 ing, but of a more attenuated form, with a straight lower jawjnstead 

 of a curved one, and a different upper surface of head. Not very 

 common in the markets of San Francisco. Hange not made out. 



Albida i'M//?9es. Lady-fish — This world-wide species, which, though by 

 some classed with the herrings, differs from them in the rounded 

 form of the abdomen, which in the latter is compressed and sharp- 

 edged, and in the numerous pavement-like teeth of its mouth, is 

 apparently resident at San Diego, where it is rather common, and 

 is sold as a food fish along with the mullet. Its bright silvery color- 

 ation renders it salable, but it is not highly valued. It spawns late 

 in the autumn, and reaches a length of about a foot. 



FAM. CLUPEIDyE — HERRINGS. 



Including the Anchovies, this family has only five representatives 

 upon the coast of California, only three of which reach San Fran- 

 cisco. 



Chqjea sagax, Sardine — This species occurs more or less abun- 

 dantly in our markets throughout by far the greater portion of the 

 year. In April and May those brought in are chiefly young, and it 

 ]s commonest about July and August. The sardine may be distin- 

 guished from the herring by its thicker and more elongated body, 

 somewliat longer head, and striated gill-cover, as well as by the total 

 absence of teeth; by the even jaws (in the herring the lower jaw 

 projects); by the narrow pointed form of the area included between 

 the ridges on the top of the head, and by the row of spots on the 

 sides. At San Diego it is even more abundant than at San Fran- 

 cisco, and is taken from the wharves with hook and line. 



This species is very close to, if not identical with the Clupea pil- 

 chardus of Europe, the young of which are the sardines put up in oil 

 that are so highly prized. It appears strange that no attempt in this 

 direction has been made in California. 



Clupea mirabilis, Herring— The herring of this coast is,_ on the 

 whole, slightly smaller than that of the Atlantic, and since it is not 

 salted or dried to any great extent, it does not figure so largely as an 

 article of food. This, however, is not due to any scarcity of thefish, 

 which occurs in shoals along the coast of California in the winter 

 season, and is still more abundant northward. During some of the 

 winter months, the bulk of the fish brought into San Francisco 

 market consists of these species. In September the first of the season 

 are taken. In November it becomes abundant, and in March or 

 April falls off and disappears. Some have been cured in Hum- 

 boldt Bay, but are said to be very poor; indeed, it is stated 

 that the herring found along the Pacific Coast of the United States 

 are far inferior to those taken between Puget Sound and Oona- 

 lashka. At the latter place the Alaska Fish Company put up a 

 small quantity, and the Cutting Packing Company salt some at Sitka. 

 The Indians press the whole fish for oil, and the spawn is kept to 

 form part of their winter stock of food. At Puget Sound many 



