ZOOLOGY. 145 
true smelts, but belong to the same genus with the sander- 
lings of the Atlantic, which last are thrown away, or used only 
as bait; whereas our Atherinopses are valuable fishes. The 
Atherinopsis californiensis forms the great bulk of the smelts 
in our market. It is the largest of the Pacific smelts, some- 
times reaching a length of*fifteen inches, and a pound in weight. 
The Osmerus species are small. All of them have bright silver 
bands along their sides. The smelts are more abundant here 
than on the Eastern coast, and are the best of our small fishes. 
They are caught at all seasons of the year; in the bays with 
nets—never at sea, or with hooks. 
§ 121. Anchovies—There are two anchovies (Angraulis 
mordax und Hngraulis nanus) on the coast of California. 
They are so nearly alike, that they are undistinguishable ex- 
cept by ichthyologists. Both are small, from four to six inches 
long, very delicate in flavor, but very bony. They are fully 
equal to the European anchovy for the table. They feed on 
minute animalcule, go in shoals, and are caught with nets in 
the bays at all seasons of the year. 
§ 122. Sardine and Herring—The sardine (Meletta ceru- 
Zea) is abundant from Humboldt Bay to San Diego. It grows 
to a length of eight or nine inches, and is therefore much larger 
than the Mediterranean sardine, to which it is fully equal in 
flavor. It is found along the coast from April to October, and 
is caught in the bays with nets. 
The herring (Clupea mirabilis) is not so abundant as the 
Atlantic species, nor so large, but is equal in flavor. It comes 
in the spring, and goes in the autumn. 
§ 123. Viviparous Fishes.—The viviparous or embiotocoid 
fishes of this coast are a peculiar feature of its ichthyology. 
They constitute, perhaps, the most remarkable natural group 
of fishes in the world, and their discovery caused a marked 
sensation among zodlogists. Other viviparous fishes had been 
previously known, but their young are brought forth in a very 
immature condition; whereas the little embiotocoid fishes are 
born with a fulness of development similar to that of warm- 
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