CALIFORNIA PISH AND GAME 393 



abundance and ripe spawning bonito, both male and female, were 

 found over a wide area, suggesting a rather extensive spawning range 

 for the latter species. As a preliminary trial of the method of 

 attaching tags to tuna, three bonito were tagged by R. S. Croker 

 during the trip. The mechanics of tagging proved satisfactory so that 

 we are now in readiness for an extensive tagging program in an attempt 

 to dissolve some of the mystery as to the movements of tuna schools in 

 the waters off Mexico and southern California. 



A four-week trip (June 7-July 6) w'as made by H. C. Godsil down 

 Ihe coast of Lower California and into the gulf as far as La Paz. The 

 purposes of the trip were to locate tuna schools and fishing banks, to 

 initiate tuna tagging, to extend our knowledge of mackerel spawning 

 time, density, and localities, and to continue our observations on the 

 occurrence and spawning of sardines to the south of the State line. 

 The mackerel and sardine observations made on the trip were very 

 successful. Plankton net hauls were made for mackerel eggs and larvae 

 at frequent intervals down the coast. Sardines were observed and 

 samples taken from what appears to be a local population in the Gulf of 

 California near La Paz. Tuna scouting was unavoidably curtailed and 

 difficulty was encountered in keeping bait alive in the tank which had 

 an insufficient circulation of sea water. 



August 9 to 18 a trip was made by H. C. Godsil and R. S. Croker 

 among the channel islands off southern California in an attempt to 

 locate and tag albacore and other tunas. No fish were taken but the 

 staff members are consoled by the fact that commercial fishermen also 

 were unable to make catches in the same localities during the 9-day 

 interval. 



Other research trips planned for the Bluefin during the autumn 

 wall be postponed because of a change in schedule by which the patrol 

 boat will be engaged in transporting wild quail from Lower California 

 for planting in suitable locations in this State. — W. L. S., August 

 21, 1934. 



UNCOMMON FISH TAKEN AT SAN PEDRO 



A few unusual fish have been taken in the commercial fish citch 

 of the San Pedro region within the past few months. 



On March 15, 1934, a tongue sole, Sijmphurus atricaudus, was 

 caught by the boat President. This is the only true sole occurring along 

 the California coast and is taken only occasionally in the commercial 

 catch. 



Two specimens of Macrourus stelgidolepis have been brought into 

 the San Pedro fish markets, one on March 9, 1934, and one on July 2, 

 1934. This is a relatively rare fish and has no common name. It 

 belongs to the familv Macrouridae. A related species, taken on the 

 Atlantic coast, is called a rat-tail. Fish of this family are taken in 

 comparatively deep waters. They are characterized by a deep body, 

 narrowing abruptly to a long, slender tail. Our specimens were about 

 15 inches in length. 



A sunfish, Mola mola, was seen at the San Pedro markets on Sep- 

 tember 28, 1933, and another on July 2, 1934. 



The Japanese herring, Etrumeus microps, appears occasionally m 

 the fish catches of these waters. On May 22, May 24, and June 11, 1934, 



