142 RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 
white below. The halibut prefer a colder climate, and are not 
sufficiently abundant in this latitude to sustain a special fish- 
ery; but a few are in our market throughout the year. They 
live in deep water, and in places where the bottom 1s rocky. 
They eat little fish and shell-fish, and bite readily at the hook. 
Their meat is very delicate. 
§ 110. Zurbot.—The turbot ( Pleuronychthys rugosus) is 
the only large flat-fish, except the halibut, found along our 
shore. It sometimes grows to weigh twenty pounds, but the 
common size is from three to ten pounds. The turbot inhabits 
deep waters and rocky bottoms, eats fish, and bites readily at 
the hook. It is one of the best fish in our market. 
§ 111. Sole—We have four species of small flat-fish, com- 
monly called soles (Psettichthys sordidus, Pscttichthys mela- 
nostictus, Parophrys vetulus, and Platessa bilineata). They 
are so much alike, that they are not distinguished from one 
another by fishermen generally. The Platessa bilineata is the 
largest, sometimes weighing two pounds; the others rarely 
exceed one pound. They frequent the shallow waters of the 
bay of San Francisco, and are caught abundantly in nets at all 
seasons of the year. The flat-fishes do not bury themselves in 
the mud here through the winter, as they do in the North At- 
lantic. The soles feed on crustacea, little fishes, and marine 
animalcule. 
§ 112. Mackerel.—The mackerel (Scomber diego) is found 
north of Point Conception. It is good, but not more than 
half as large as the Atlantic mackerel. The Californian mack- 
erel rarely exceeds ten inches in length. It lies near the sur- 
face of the water at sea, and is not fond of entering bays or 
going very near the shore. Like its Eastern congener, it bites 
readily at any white rag or shining white substance jerked 
through the water. 
§ 113. Lock-Fish.—The rock-fish furnish the main supply 
of fish in the San Francisco market. All belong to the genus 
Sebastes, of which there are cight species, the most important 
being the red (rosaceus), blak (melanops), and wharf rock- 
