956 CAME FISH OF NORTH AMERICA. 



CHIRID^. 



Not less characteristic of the west coast fish fauna than the 

 Embiotocidae are the Chiridae. This family includes the fishes caTled 

 at San Francisco " Sea trout " and " Cod." As may, however, be 

 surmised, the species so-called have not the slightest aflfinity and 

 but very little resemblance to the true sea-trout and cod. 



In the Californian waters three well-defined species are designa- 

 ted as " Sea-trout," viz. : 



(l.) Chirus guttatus, — Girard. 



(2.) Chirus pictus. — Girard. 



(3.) Acantholebzus nebulosus. — Gill. 



The so-called "Cod" is the Ophiodon elongatus. 



Besides these several other species of the family are known from 

 the western coast. 



SCORP^NIDyE. 

 This family, of which only one species is commonly known along 

 the eastern coast, is represented by many species on the western. 

 They are all market fishes, although of course taken in varying 

 numbers, and are readily caught with the hook. Most of them are 

 found in the open sea or off-shore, but one species {Sebastomus 

 auriculatus) frequents the shores, and is often the object of sport 

 at the wharves of the city of San Francisco. They are, to some ex- 

 tent ovoviviparous, and their young develop in the spring and early' 

 summer months. The species are generally designated by the 

 names " Rock-cod," " Groupers," and " Snappers," but it must be 

 borne in mind that they have no close relations to the fishes 

 originally so-called. The species differ chiefly in the armature of the 

 bones of the head, and, specifically, in color as well as proportions 

 and minor structural characters. Their names are as follows : 



I. Sedasiapzstes gutiaius, 



(Called "Scorpene" by European fishermen). 

 a. Sebastichthys nigrocinctus. 

 Rare. 



3. Sehastomus caurinits, 



Alaska. 



4. Sebiist/ymus nebulosus. 



Rather common, but seldom exceeds two pounds in weight. 



