38 



taken with hook and lino in very deep water. This and the preced- 

 ing are equal in size and value to the next. 



o. fiavidus, Yellow Tail — Nol common in Puget Sound, but very 

 abundant in Monterey Bay and about San Francisco. It occurs in 



both deep and shallow water, and is taken in large numbers both 

 with gill nets and set lines. It is one of the largest of the group, 

 reaching a weight of six to seven pounds, and is considered one of 

 the best. 



S. mystinus, Black Bass, Black Rock Cod, Black Garrupa, Pesce 

 Pretre — More common about Monterey and San Francisco than 

 either southward or northward of those points, and sent from Monte- 

 rey and Tomalcs Hay to the San Francisco markets in greater quantity 

 than any other, although from its dark color it is less salable than 

 the more brightly tinted species. Large quantities are wasted, 

 especially in autumn, when they fail to find purchasers at a cent 

 per pound. It is found in rather shallow waters, is mostly taken in 

 gill nets, and reaches a weight of five pounds. 



S. dliatus, Black-spotted Bass. This fish, in size, habits, and 

 value, is similar to the preceding, and is by no means rare in the 

 markets of San Francisco. It is most common in Puget Sound. 



Sebastodes paucispin is, Boccaccio, Merou, Jack — The Italian " Boccac- 

 cio " or big mouth, fits this fish well. It is a large species, reaching 

 a weight of from twelve to fourteen pounds, and a length of two feet 

 eight inches. It is one of the best food fishes, and although not very 

 common at San Francisco, becomes more abundant southward. The 

 adults inhabit reefs in deep water, but the young come near shore in 

 the Spring, and are taken from the wharves. 



The rock fish generally live on small fish and Crustacea. They 

 spawn early in the spring, and some at least are viviparous. The 

 young of the S.flavidus are extruded at a length of over one third of 

 an inch, and the same is the case with nebulosus, rosaceus, carnatus, 

 etc. Probably the whole group is viviparous. The first to notice 

 this peculiarity was the Californian ichthyologist, Dr. W. 0. Ayres, 

 whose observations have in most cases stood the test of examination. 



FAM. STROMATEID.E. 



This family, a subdivision of the Scombridse of Cuvier, is char- 

 acterized by the presence of spinous processes from the vertebrae,, 

 forming teeth in the oesophagus, as well as by the absence of ventral 

 fins. Only one species is known to occur upon our coast. 



Stromateus simillimns, Pompino — This highly valued species occurs 

 along the entire Pacific coast of the United States, having been seen 

 in Puget Sound in the summer. It moves from place to place rather 

 irregularly, appearing in schools at almost any season. It is but a 

 small fish, rarely exceeding half a pound in weight, but its flesh is 

 rich and fat, and its name helps to sell it, so that it readily fetches 

 from twenty-five to fifty cents per pound. It is taken in seines, with 

 hook and line, or by grabhook from the wharves. 



A very curious monstrous example of this fish was brought to San 

 Francisco market in the autumn of 1879. This individual was pos- 

 sessed of two mouths, externally alike, equal in size, and similar in 

 structure; the lower mouth, situated somewhat behind the upper,, 

 directly beneath the eye, and in front of that bone of the gill cover 



