11 



The Pacific Herring, Clupea pallasi (Cuvler and Valenciennes), 

 (Fig. 9) is very closely related to the herring of the Atlantic. It is 

 one of our most important food fishes and is destined to form the 

 basis of an immense industry in the years to come. The young fish are 

 already packed in great quantities on the California coast as sardines, 

 and in Alaska the salting of herring has assumed considerable propor- 

 tions. 



The California Sardine, Sardinia caerulea (Girard), (Fig. 11) re- 

 sembles the herring but can be distinguished from the latter at a 

 glance by the presence of a fan-shaped group of ridges on the gill 

 cover. The- lack of teeth in the roof of the mouth is also diagnostic 

 as these are not present in the sardine. This fish is closely allied to 

 the pilchard of Europe and is a most desirable food fish as it is su- 

 perior in many respects to the herring. 



The Shad, Alosa sapidissima (Wilson), (Fig. 13) is not native to 

 our waters but was introduced into the Pacific a number of years ago 

 and has now multiplied extensively. The general anatomical peculiari- 

 ties of the shad follow the lines of the herring, but the body is deeper 

 and the breast and belly possess saw-like serrations. It spawns in 

 fresh water. This species is little appreciated as a food fish on the 

 Pacific Coast, but is growing in importance. 



PAMIIiY 12. ANCHOVIES; ENGBAUIilDAE. 



This family is closely related to the herrings, but may be dis- 

 tinguished by the large size of the mouth and the overhanging snout, 

 which extends beyond the mouth opening. 



The Northern Anchovy, EngrauUs mordax (Girard), (Fig. 12) is a 

 slender, graceful fish with a bluish back and silvery sides. It is a 

 valuable food fish, but is little used at present, although some are 

 canned as sardines on the California coast. The species attain a length 

 of 7 inches. 



FAMILY 13. SALMON AND TROUT; SALMONIDAE. 



From an economic standpoint this family of fishes overshadows all 

 others on the Pacific Coast, since it includes the five species of Pacific 

 Salmon which form such a conspicuous feature in the preserved fish 

 trade of the world. 



The most characteristic structure in the anatomy of members 

 of this group is the curious organ known as the adipose fin. This 

 is not confined to the Salmonidae, however, as it exists in several 

 other families of fishes. The ventral fins are far back on the body. 

 The body is covered with circular scales, but these are absent from the 

 head. The dorsal-fin has from 9 to 15 rays. A lateral line is present 

 on the side. Three genera are represented in our fauna. 



