XI 



THE GIANT BASS 



(Stereopolepis gigas) 



THE giant bass is a monster fish of the 

 Pacific Ocean and is found along the edge 

 of the forests of kelp that fringe the rocky 

 coasts of the islands of southern California 

 from the Coronados to the Farallones. 



This fish is often confounded with the 

 jewfish (ponnicrops guttatus) but is in 

 reality quite a different fish. 



The jewfish frequents warmer water than 

 that of the Channel Islands and is to be 

 found along the coast of Lower California 

 as well as in the waters of southern Florida 

 and in the Gulf of Mexico. It is more like 

 a giant grouper than a bass, for it is a skin 

 fish with small scales underneath the skin 

 and has rounded fins and a rounded tail, 

 whereas the giant bass resembles the fresh 



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