186 NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



market average less than half a pound. It is found from Santa Barbara to Alaska, and from Sail 

 Francisco northward is extremely abundant. In number of individuals taken, this rpeeies is 

 exceeded only by Plcuronevtes stelhttvs. In number of pounds it probably ranks below Hippoylos- 

 soides Jordani. It forms about one-fifth the whole flounder catch of the coast. It lives near the 

 shore, and is taken in gill-nets and seines. It feeds on Crustacea and the like. As a food-fish it 

 meets with a ready sale, but its flesh is rather poor and tasteless. It spawns in spring. Nothing 

 further is known of its breeding habits, and nothing of its enemies or diseases. It is often found 

 in the stomachs of larger predaceous fishes. 



Its flesh is softer than that of other Flounders, and it does not make an attractive appearance 

 in the market. It always readily sells, however, and the quality of the flesh is probably better 

 than that of some of the other kinds. 



PABOPHRYS ISOLEPIS (Lockingtou) Jordan and Gilbert. 



This species, too, is a Sole to the fishermen. It reaches a length of about fifteen inches and a 

 weight of about two and a half pounds. Its usual length is about ten inches, with a weight of 

 half a pound. It ranges from Monterey to Puget Sound, inhabiting rather deep water and 

 becoming larger in size and more plentiful northward. About San Francisco it is mainly taken 

 by the paranzelle fishermen, who obtain it in great numbers, but it forms less than one per cent, of 

 the flounder catch of the coast. Its food is mainly Crustacea and inollusks. It spawns in spring, 

 at which season the largest catches of it are made. 



Large specimens of this species are sold with the best Soles (Psettichthys), which they greatly 

 resemble. Small ones rank with Olyptocephalm pacificus and the like, and often cannot be sold. 



CiTHABiCH'J HYS soEDious (Girard) Gthr. 



This species is often known as the "Plaice" in Puget Sound. About San Francisco it 

 becomes, like the others, a "Sole." It is one of the smallest species, reaching a length of fifteen 

 inches, and a weight of two pounds. Its average weight in market is little more than half a 

 pound. It ranges from San Diego to Puget Sound, being rare south of Point Conception, and most 

 abundant about Monterey. It lives in comparatively deep water, and is considered distinctively 

 a deep-water species by the fishermen in, Puget Sound. It takes the hook very readily, and great 

 numbers are taken on set-lines by the Chinese, to dry for market. It probably makes about eight 

 per cent, of the entire flounder catch of the coast. It feeds on small fishes, the anchovy being 

 one of its special anicles of food. 



PSETTICHTHYS MELANOSTIOTUS Girard. 



This species is everywhere a Sole, and at Sau Francisco it is considered to have a better 

 claim to that title than any other species. It reaches a length of about twenty inches, and a 

 weight of four or five pounds. Its average length is about fifteen inches. It ranges from .Mon- 

 terey to Wrangel, Alaska. It lives at no great depths, and is about equally abundant the entire 

 length of the coast. Although never found in large numbers, it is always present in the markets, 

 and forms some five per cent, of the entire flounder catch of the coast. It feeds upon fishes and 

 ortutacea. 



Nothing special is known of its breeding habits, enemies, or diseases. As a food-fish it is 

 considered the best of the family by those who distinguish it from related species. 



