36 



Scbasiodcs paucipinis, Small scaled Rockfish, is placed in another 

 genus on account of its small scales, straight back, and other pecul- 

 iarities. The snout is almost twice as long as the diameter of the 

 eye; there are nine anal rays, and the third anal spine is longest. A 

 few economic particulars of these species may prove interesting : 



S. higrocinctus, the Black, or rather the Dark Drown handed Rock 

 Cod, is found from Monterey to Puget Sound, and is tolerably abun- 

 dant, in very deei> water, in the Straits of Fuca. About San Fran- 

 cisco it is rare. It reaches a weight of four pounds. 



S. serriceps, the Saw-head or Tree fish, is more southern in its range, 

 but is abundant in rather deep water about Santa Catalina Island. 

 The hands are decidedly black, instead of dark brown, as in nigro- 

 cinctus, and are more numerous than in that species. Northern 

 specimens are larger, paler, and more brightly colored than southern. 

 It reaches about three pounds, and is rare in the markets of San 

 Francisco, though met with more frequently than the preceding. 



S. carnatus, S. nebidosus, and S. cJirysomelas are known to the fisher- 

 men by the name of Garrupa. The first is taken in great numbers 

 with gill nets in rather shallow water, and is occasionally abundant 

 in our markets. It is rare at Santa Barbara, and has not yet been 

 noticed north of San Francisco. It reaches a weight of about two 

 and a half pounds. It is classed with atrovirens, flavidus, nebidosus, 

 and others, and is accounted a good food fish. 



S. nebidosus is about equal in size and weight to the preceding, but 

 is found in rather deeper water, and is scarcely so abundant. 



S. chrysomelas, the Yellow-Banded Rock Cod, ranges from San Pedro 

 to Puget Sound, and becomes more abundant northward. It occurs 

 in water of moderate depth, and is taken with hook and gill nets. 

 It reaches three and a half pounds. 



S. maliger is found in rather deep water, and is commonest in the 

 Straits of Fuca, where it is taken with hook and line. Occasionally 

 it occurs in the San Francisco markets. It is larger than any of the 

 preceding species, reaching a weight of six pounds. 



S. rastrelliger, Garrupa, Dusky Rockfish, is not very rare in our 

 markets, and reaches a weight about equal to that of the latter. 

 About the Santa Barbara Islands it is taken with hook and line and 

 with gill nets, rarely with seines. It is esteemed as food. 



S. auriculatus, Wharf Rock-fish, is in individuals the most common 

 of all the group in the San Francisco markets; and as it is plentiful 

 in the bay, and is taken throughout the year, the total weight of the 

 species brought in is probably about equal to that of S. mystinus, 

 notwithstanding its smaller size. It is the only kind that frequents 

 shallow bays, and is taken near shore from wharves and similar 

 places, with hook and line. It reaches a weight of three pounds, but 

 the greater part of those brought into the markets of San Francisco 

 are young, and do not weigh more than half a pound. 



S. vexillaris is the most variably colored and one of the most widely 

 spread of the species, ranging from San Diego to Puget's Sound. It 

 reaches a weight of five or six pounds, and is occasionally tolerably 

 abundant in the markets of our city. 



S. chlorostictus — Green-spotted Rockfish, the Pesce Vermiglia of the 

 Italian fishermen, reaches a weight of four pounds, and is known 

 only from Monterey Bay, where it occurs in considerable abundance 

 along with the three following : 



S. rhodochloris — Fly Fish, is only known from Monterey Bay. It 



