122 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
and is shipped to San Francisco, where it sells at from 4 to 8 cents per 
pound. 
The “jewfisb,” or “ black sea-bass” (Stereolepis gigas), is said to bean 
excellent food -fish, and the smallest are in demand in the market. It 
is generally plentiful in deep water about the Farralone Islands, but 
comparatively few are brought to market because of its great size. It 
is the largest food-fish on the coast; its maximum weight is about 500 
pounds. 
The striped bass ( Roccns lineatus), which was artificially introduced 
into western waters about 1885, is now quite abundant, and may be 
included among the finest of the California market fishes.* 
The barracuda, one of the most common food species, is in season 
from June to September ; the price ranges from 4 to 12 cents per pound. 
Salmon of several species and of varying excellence are found in the 
San Francisco markets. They constitute important objects of fishery and 
are taken in the bays and rivers of the region under discussion. Except, 
perhaps, in September, the markets are generally supplied with some 
kind of salmon, for shipments are received from variouspomts along the 
northern coast. These include the quinnat or king salmon ( Oncorhynchus 
chouicha ), the silver salmon (0. kisutcli), dog salmon (0. keta ), hump- 
back salmon (0, gorbuscha ), and steelhead (8almo gairdneri). The price 
ranges from 15 to 12 cents per pound. The black-spotted trout or “ lake 
trout” (8. purpuratus var. henshawi) is in season from October to March, 
and in good demand, selling for from 18 to 25 cents per pound. 
Smelt (Atherinopsis calif orniensis, Osmerus thaleichthys , O. attenuatus , 
and Hypomesus pretiosns) are most abundant from January 15 to Sep- 
tember, though a few are seen in the markets in the intervening 
months. The largest catch is made in February, March, and April. 
Alexander remarks that “ smelt-fishiug is followed about- 7 months 
in the year. It usually begins in February and v is assiduously prose- 
cuted till the middle of September, and not infrequently October is 
well advanced before the season is over.” A. californicus is alone 
called smelt in this region. It grows to a large size, attaining a weight 
ranging from one-third of a pound to a pound. t After the principal run 
is over, silversides or sand-smelt of smaller size are taken with other 
species. The price is from 6 to 10 cents per pound. 
The herring (Cltipea mirabilis) is exceedingly abundant in its season, 
from October or November to about March 15, J and, judged by the 
* Alexander states that in March and April, 1890, it had “recently been taken in 
such quantities that the price was reduced to 18 cents per pound.” The ruling price 
prior to that time was $1 per pound. 
t Jordan says of O. thaleiclitliys that “ This species is known as smelt, especially in 
those parts of the coast where the Atherinopsis or California smelt is unknown.” 
t If the weather is dry and warm, herring do not remain so late in the spring, but 
if the season is wet and cold they are caught until the middle of Inarch. 
