PACIFIC COAST FISHES. 



359 



good name for them, and by that they may be called. None of 

 them, it is said, are very good for the table, being more or less 

 flabby, insipid, and watery, but they are all marketable fishes. The 

 most abundant of the large species appears to be the Tceniotoca 

 lateralis, which is olive-colored, marked with longitudinal blue 

 stripes. It is simply called " perch " by the San Franciscans. 

 Common Surf-fish ; Perch. — Cymatogaster aggregates. — Gibbons. 

 This is, perhaps, the most common species of the family, and 

 lives in large schools. They swim near the surface, and when 

 frightened, and for other causes, leap out of the water witii great 

 agility. This habit is taken advantage of by the Indians of the 

 coast, as well as by some white followers, to make captures. A 

 boat Is pushed into a school and many fishes jump out of the water 

 only to fall into the vessel. They are found near the shore from 

 spring to autunjn, and may then be caught readily with the baited 

 hook ; salmon roe is regarded as one of the best baits. The species 

 is about of the size of the white perch of the East, and somewhat 

 resembles it in appearance. 



SCI^NID^/E. 



KlNGFlSH. — Menticirrus undutatus, — Gill. 



This is a rare species along the southern coast (San Diego, etc.), 

 and is quite similar to the eastern Kingfish. 



Grunter. — Rhinosciott saturnus. — Gill. 



A southern species, reaching a length of a foot or two, and a 

 good table fish. 



Little Bass, Corvina, or Cognard. — Genyonevzus Zineatus, — Gill. 

 Also a southern coast species, but extending northward to 

 San Francisco ; it reaches a length of one or two feet. 



Big Bass. — Airactoscion nohilis.—Q'CX. ^ 



A common fish in the San Francisco markets, which sometimes 

 attains a length of five feet, and a weight of seventy-five pounds. 

 It is most nearly related to the Eastern weak-^fishes. Rocky bot- 

 toms are its favorite haunts. It may be taken by trolling outside 

 the kelp. 



SERRANID^. 



Four species of this family may be taken along the Californian 



