57 



l)arrels are sometimes taken at one haul of the seine. It reaches 

 about a foot in length, and spawns in Januarj'- at San Diego, but 

 much later on the northern part of our coast. It is nowhere much 

 valued. 



Clupea {alosa), saiyidissi'ma, Shad — This species has prospered since 

 its introduction into the Sacramento, and is now brought to market 

 pretty regularly, although it still bears a high price. As in the Atlan- 

 tic States, it descends to the sea at intervals, and the locality chosen 

 by a large proportion of the species is the Bay of Monterey. Others 

 scatter to a greater distance, as Professor Jordan took two examples 

 on the Columbia River; and it has also been taken as far south as 

 Wilmington. The largest shad I have 3'et heard of on this coast was 

 sold in the spring of this year, by Messrs. Spence & Johnson, of the 

 California Market. This individual measured twenty-six inches in 

 length, nine and a half in width, and weighed eight pounds and a 

 half. One of about the same dimensions, but not quite so heavy, was 

 sold by the same dealers last year. 



Stolephorus rmgens, Anchovy — This is one of the most abundant of 

 the finny tribe along the coast of California, and although not taken 

 largely by the fishermen, is of great indirect service to man, since it 

 forms a large part of the diet of other fishes. Even the tomcod, itself 

 the prey of almost every fish used for food, devours its share of S. 

 ■ringens. It frequents quiet bays. Two other species of anchovy occur 

 in the southern part of California, viz.: S. compressus and S. delicatis- 

 simus. Both of these species differ widely in color from iS. ringens, 

 being yellowish, with a silvery streak along the flanks, instead of 

 deep bluish. 



In S. compressus the oval fin is much longer than in either of the 

 other species. S. compressus reaches a length of about five inches, 

 and is very abundant in the Bays of San Pedro and San Diego. It 

 is not eaten, as its flesh is very dry. 



S. ringens is chiefly used for bait, especially by the Chinese, who 

 salt it for that purpose. In San Francisco market it is occasionally 

 j)ickled with spices. It reaches a length of six inches. 



S. delicalissimus is a very small species. 



ORDER APODES, FISHES WITHOUT VENTRAL FINS. 



This order, which includes numerous fishes having an extremely 

 ■elongated form, with numerous vertebrae, very small branchial aper- 

 tures, no ventral fins, and fin rays of simple structure, is but poorly 

 represented on this coast, since only the specimens occur within the 

 limits of California, and one or two others farther north. All of these 

 are marine. 



Murtvna mordax, Conger Eel, Congaree — The Conger is abundant 

 about Santa Catalina Island, and at San Diego, where it lives among 

 rocks near tide marks, and may sometimes be taken on land. It is 

 very pugnacious, striking like a snake. The flesh is fat and pala- 

 table like that of the fresh water eel, and as it reaches a length of 

 five feet, and a weight of fifteen to twenty pounds, it is esteemed as 

 food, although the skin is reputed to be poisonous. 



8^ 



