180 Big Game Fishes 
thirty feet or more long, tinted a deep lavender; 
others are crystal chalices, or chains of dainty 
design. If the scene along this forest is fasci- 
nating by day, what can be said at night, when 
myriads of lights appear. Every point and form 
then becomes a living light, while the water itself 
blazes out in silver radiance. 
Such is the home of the sheepshead, the sly, 
cunning, jocular denizen of every ocean hedge 
and byway from San Diego and beyond to San 
Clemente, Santa Catalina, the islands of Santa 
Barbara on to Point Concepcion, which appears 
to be its northern limit. At the island of San 
Clemente it is particularly plentiful, the many 
caves lined with kelp affording it retreats to its 
choice. Looking down through the openings of 
the kelp, following some vagrant sunbeam, I have 
seen dozens of these poseuvs and watched them, 
unsuspected. They were always deliberate in 
their movements, sailing in and out of the vari- 
ous halls formed by the kelp, accompanied by the 
dazzling golden angel-fish; now standing on 
their heads to pick up some object on the bottom, 
or darting down to rub themselves upon a moss- 
covered rock. I recall one huge fellow at this 
place which moved sedately about, proudly drag- 
