REPORT OF STATE BOARD OP FISH COMMISSIONERS. 5*3 



Asia, which has been copiously introduced into Europe and America. 

 A large number of the species found in California are more or less 

 valued as food, and are at times brought to the San Francisco markets. 



Orthodon microlepidotus Ayres. 



This is a small species, reaching a length of fourteen inches. It is 

 abundant in the Sacramento, and is occasionally found in the San 

 Franeisco markets. 



Lavinia exilicauda Baird and Girard. 

 This species resembles the preceding in size and distribution. 



Pogonichthys macrolepidotus Ayres. Split-tail. 



This is one of the commonest of the minnows. It is at once recog- 

 nized by its widely forked tail. 



Mylophardon conocephalus Baird and Girard. 



This is one of the largest of the Cyprinidx. It is said to reach a length 

 of eighteen inches. It is rarely brought to the San Francisco market. 



Ptychocheihis oregonensis Rich., and harfordi J. and G. Sacramento 



Pike; Whitefish. 



There are two varieties of pike brought to the markets, but they are 

 not distinguished by the fishermen. They are called pike from their 

 resemblance to the true pike, from which they are, however, quite dis- 

 tinct, and to which they are not at all related. P. oregonensis is said to 

 reach a length of five feet. 



Salmonid^;. Salmons, Trouts, and Whitefish. 



The Salmonidse embrace the most important of our fish, both as 

 regards food and sport. The genera which in California are of greatest 

 value are Coregonus, Oncorhynchus, Salmo, and Salvelinus. They can 

 readily be distinguished from our other fresh-water species by the adipose 

 fin, and by the presence of scales. The genera found in California may 

 be distinguished by the following characters: 



a. Jaws toothless; scales rather large; habitually living in fresh water 



Coregonus, or Whitefish. 



aa. Jaws with distinct teeth. 

 b. Anal fin elongate; fourteen to seventeen rays, the tip of the highest ray rarely 



extending beyond the base of the last Oncorhynchus, or salmon. 



bb. Anal fin shorter; of nine to eleven developed rays, 

 c. Vomer fiat ; its toothed surface plane ; teeth on its shaft in pairs, or in a zig- 

 zag row ; tip of the highest anal ray usually extending beyond the tip of 



the last ray Salmo, or trouts. 



cc. Vomer boat-shaped; its shaft strongly depressed; teeth on chevron only— 



„ Salvelinus, or Charrs, or Brook trouts. 



Unfortunately there is a confusion of names due to localities and 

 variation in the species of this family which is frequently misleading. 

 To this is to be added that very little is known as yet concerning the 

 California trouts, so that many writers, basing their remarks on a few 

 pickled specimens, have increased the confusion rather than helped us. 



