400 NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



" they are taken with hook and line and are brought daily into the market. Before the poisoned 

 water visited that neighborhood the Grunt was the most important as well as the favorite food- 

 fish in the market, but since then they have been scarce, and other fish, to a great extent, have 

 taken their place." 



CALIFORNIAN GRUNTS. 



On the California coast occur two species of this family; one, known to tjhe fishermen by the 

 name " Sargo," Pristipoma Davidsoni, is found from San Pedro southward to Cerros Island, chiefly 

 about the islands, and is nowhere common. It feeds on crustaceans and is a good pan-fish, but is 

 too scarce to have much economic value. It reaches a length of about fifteen inches. Still another, 

 Xenistius californiensis Steindachner, occurs from San Diego to Cape San Lucas. It is too scarce 

 to be of any importance for food. 



