146 RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 
blooded animals, and the moment after they leave the mother 
they are seen swimming and taking care of themselves. There 
are seventeen or eighteen species belonging to the several 
genera, among which the embiotoca and holconotis are promi- 
nent. All are marine fishes save one, which is found in fresh 
water. They weigh from half a pound to three pouuds, and 
most of them are grayish brown above and silvery beneath. 
They are abundant in the market at all seasons of the year, 
and are called “perch” by the fishermen, though they have no 
relationship to the true perch. The meat is not good. The 
young are born from April to August. 
§ 124. Fresh- Water Fishes—Among the fresh-water fishes 
the most important is the brook-trout (Salar iridea), which is 
found in all the mountain-streams of the state, and offers fine 
sport for fly-fishing. It not unfrequently grows to weigh two 
pounds, and, if report is to be believed, sometimes reaches ten 
and twelve pounds. In appearance and flavor it is similar to 
the trout of other countries. 
A fish called the salmon-trout (Ptychocheilus grandis), but 
not related to the salmon, the trout, or the salmon-trout, is 
found in all the large rivers and lakes of California. It grows 
to weigh thirty pounds. Its teeth are not in the mouth, but 
in the throat, where it crushes such shell-fish as it feeds upon. 
It bites voraciously, and is caught with the hook and with 
aets. The meat is poor, bony, and insipid. It is brought to 
the market in winter. The small ones are called pikes. 
A chub (Zygomea crassicauda), and two suckers ( Catosto- 
mus labiatus and Catostomus occidentalis), never weighing 
more than three pounds, are also found in our rivers. They 
are not valuable. 
§ 125. Shell-Fish and Crustaceans—We have five species 
of shell-fish valuable for the table: one oyster, two muscles, 
one cockle, and a soft-shelled clam. The oysters are small, 
not finely-flavored, nor abundant. We have no Icbster, but a 
prawn (Palinuris), very similar to the lobster in size, color, 
favor, habits, and general appearance, except that it lacks the 
