CHAPTER XX. 



INHABITANTS OF THE OREGON AND CALIFORNIA 

 WATERS. 



THE waters of California are alive With a great variety 

 of the finny race, equal in value to the angler as are its 

 golden sands* to the adventurer. In the bay and harbor of 

 Sao Francisco are found the Haddock, the Black Fish or 

 Tautog, the Flounder, the Mackerel, the Weak Fish or salt 

 water Trout of the south, the Mullet, and the Red Fish, or 

 Sported Basse. These different descriptions,which are taken 

 with rod or hand-tackle in the usual manner, are of unusually 

 large size and of very fine flavor. The Red Fish is said by 

 those who have tried it with the knife and fork to be 

 superior in gastronomic qualities to the celebrated fish of 

 the same name at New Orleans and Charleston, being also 

 much finer in out ward appearance, having more delicate skin, 

 smaller scales, and its superficial surface more beautiful. 

 They bite at the hook baited with pieces of mullet, beef, 

 or pork, very freely, are very vigorous, and give good 

 play with the rod and reel. The beautiful Mullet is also 

 found here in all its glory, and grows to quite a large size, 

 being taken from 6 or 8 inches to 2 or 4 feet in length 

 in seines or nets. A singular description of fish is ateo 

 taken in the bay called the Trigger Fish. This member 

 of the family has a singular projection on the back, similar 

 in appearance to the trigger of a gun, from which much 

 amusement is had by the inhabitants by its singular motions, 



* In the time of Cortes gold was reported to be so plenty in Mexico, 

 that the fishermen used gold weights to their nets. Our Salmon anglers 

 of the Sacramento will of course use golden Ruds and Reels. 



