i8o Big Came Fishes 



thirty feet or more long, tinted a deep lavender; 

 others are crystal chalices, or chains of dainty 

 design. If the scene along this forest is fasci- 

 nating by day, what can be said at night, when 

 myriads of lights appear. Every point and form 

 then becomes a living light, while the water itself 

 blazes out in silver radiance. 



Such is the home of the sheepshead, the sly, 

 cunning, jocular denizen of every ocean hedge 

 and byway from San Diego and beyond to San 

 Clemente, Santa Catalina, the islands of Santa 

 Barbara on to Point Concepcion, which appears 

 to be its northern limit. At the island of San 

 Clemente it is particularly plentiful, the many 

 caves lined with kelp affording it retreats to its 

 choice. Looking down through the openings of 

 the kelp, following some vagrant sunbeam, I have 

 seen dozens of these poseurs and watched them, 

 unsuspected. They were always deliberate in 

 their movements, sailing in and out of the vari- 

 ous halls formed by the kelp, accompanied by the 

 dazzling golden angel-fish ; now standing on 

 their heads to pick up some object on the bottom, 

 or darting down to rub themselves upon a moss- 

 covered rock. I recall one huge fellow at this 

 place which moved sedately about, proudly drag- 



