The Dolphin 349 



weight of nearly five hundred pounds, is an ac- 

 tive, hard-fighting fish extremely difficult to catch, 

 and may be considered the rarest of what might 

 be termed the pelagic game fishes of the United 

 States, which, though rarely seen near the main- 

 land shores, are found about the adjacent islands 

 of the Pacific from the Coronados to the Faral- 

 lones, and on the high seas in general. Large 

 individuals have been seen at Monterey on the 

 California coast. I remember well when a fish- 

 erman at Avalon came to tell me of the splendid 

 fish he had taken, and the beautiful object which 

 met my eyes on going to the beach where the 

 opha, a small individual weighing perhaps fifty 

 pounds, was hung. Its normal or ground tint ap- 

 peared to be dull silver, but over this was drawn a 

 seeming fabric of rose-lilac hue, while dotted over 

 the surface were round, pronounced, vivid silvery 

 spots, giving the fish a most artificial appearance. 

 The fins were vermilion; the eyes very large, larger 

 than in any other fish I recall, and a deep blue, 

 completing a make-up which was at once striking 

 and beautiful. The flesh was a deep red, and 

 recalled salmon in its flavor. If this shy fish of 

 many glories was available, it would afford excel- 

 lent sport to the lover of big game at sea. 



