The Dolphin 349 
weight of nearly five hundred pounds, is an ac- 
tive, hard-fighting fish extremely difficult to catch, 
and may be considered the rarest of what might 
be termed the pelagic game fishes of the United 
States, which, though rarely seen near the main- 
land shores, are found about the adjacent islands 
of the Pacific from the Coronados to the Faral- 
lones, and on the high seas in general. Large 
individuals have been seen at Monterey on the 
California coast. I remember well when a fish- 
erman at Avalon came to tell me of the splendid 
fish he had taken, and the beautiful object which 
met my eyes on going to the beach where the 
opha, a small individual weighing perhaps fifty 
pounds, was hung. Its normal or ground tint ap- 
peared to be dull silver, but over this was drawn a 
seeming fabric of rose-lilac hue, while dotted over 
the surface were round, pronounced, vivid silvery 
spots, giving the fish a most artificial appearance. 
The fins were vermilion; the eyes very large, larger 
than in any other fish I recall, and a deep blue, 
completing a make-up which was at once striking 
and beautiful. The flesh was a deep red, and 
recalled salmon in its flavor. If this shy fish of 
many glories was available, it would afford excel- 
lent sport to the lover of big game at sea. 
