16 



K E P O K T 



II'ON THF. 



EDIBLE FISHES OF THE PACIFIC COAST, U. S. A. 



BY W. N. LOCKINGTON. 



Since the publication of the last report of the Fish Commissioners 

 of this State, more than forty new species have been described, the 

 greater part of them by Professor D. S. Jordan and his assistant, Mr. 

 Gilbert, both of the United States Fish Commission. Beside these 

 hitherto unknown forms, our fauna has been enriched by the dis- 

 covery of the occurrence upon our coast of numerous previously 

 known species of pelagic habits, most of them either belonging to 

 the Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays), or to the mackerel and allied 

 families. 



These discoveries, notwithstanding the elimination of several 

 nominal species, raise the total number of California fishes to two 

 hundred and seventy-eight. 



If to this number are added thirty-four species occurring in Oregon 

 and Washington Territory, and not yet recorded from our State, we 

 arrive at a grand total of three hundred and twelve species belonging 

 to the Pacific Coast of the United States. 



This number includes the native species only; but the following 

 introduced species are of more or less frequent occurrence in our 

 markets, and must be considered as forming part of our supply of 

 food fishes: Striped Bass, Roccus lineatus; Shad, Alosa sapidissima; 

 Common Carp, Carassius vulgar is; Catfish (two species), Amiurus catus, 

 Amiurus albidus. 



Several other Eastern species have been introduced, but have not 

 yet become of common occurrence. 



For the greater portion of the facts brought together in the follow- 

 ing pages, I have to thank Professor D. S. Jordan, who kindly placed 

 his notes at my disposal, and assisted me in many other ways, and 

 his indefatigable assistant, Mr. C. Gilbert. These gentlemen have 

 made a more thorough investigation of the fish fauna of our coast 

 than has ever been made before, so that the present year has been 

 more fruitful in facts of scientific and economic interest than any 

 preceding one since the date of publication of the explorations and 

 surveys lor a railroad route from the Mississippi to the Pacific. 



My own observations have necessarily been for the most part con- 

 fined to the neighborhood of San Francisco; the supply brought to 

 the markets of this city ; and the specimens in various collections, 

 especially that of the California Academy of Sciences. 



