16 



anatomical peculiarities of this fish its color distinguishes it immedi- 

 ately from all allied forms. The sides are marked with round red 

 spots which extend as smaller markings to the back. The delicate 

 reticulate coloration, so characteristic of the brook trout and other 

 charrs, is lacking. Like the Cut-throat Trout, the Dolly Varden is 

 primarily a fresh water fish, and is merely a visitor in the brackish 

 and salt water where it is so frequently found. 



FAiVflLY 14. SMELTS; ARGENTINIDAE. 



The smelts have much in common with the Salmonidae in struc- 

 ture. As in the latter an adipose fin is present. The ventral fins are 

 small and are near the middle of the body. The dorsal fin is short 

 and nearly median. The tail fin is deeply forked. Three genera are 

 represented in our fauna, each with a single species. 



The Surf Smelt, Hypomesus pretiosus (Girard), (Pig. 22) is an 

 excellent food fish common in Puget Sound. It attains a length of a 

 foot. The body is covered with scales of moderate size. The angle 

 of the jaw extends to the middle of the eye, while anteriorly the lower 

 iaw protrudes beyond the upper. It is light olive in color with a 

 silvery band along the side. The eggs are laid in the surf. 



The Eulachon or Candlefish, Thaleichthys paciflcus (Richardson), 

 (Fig. 23) is the finest of the smelts. The flesh is oily and of very 

 delicate texture. The scales are small and firmly set in the skin. The 

 mouth is large and the angle of the jaw extends beyond the middle of 

 the eye. The color is pale with numerous fine dark dots over the 

 upper surface. They are about a foot long and enter the rivers to 

 spawn early in the spring. 



The Pacific Smelt, Osmerus thaleichthys (Ayres), (Fig. 24) is a 

 common fish in our waters, but is not highly regarded for its food 

 value. It is smaller than the other smelts and its flesh is soft, although 

 of agreeable flavor. The scales are of moderate size and loosely at- 

 tached. The teeth are better developed than in the allied forms, those 

 on the tongue being unusually large. The pectoral fins are elongated, 

 reaching to the base of the ventrals. 



FAMILY 15. LAJVTERN PISHES; MYCTOPHIDAE. 



These are small deep-water fishes somewhat resembling smelt, since 

 a small adipose fin is present. The scales are of relatively great size 

 and along the sides occur a number of round clear spots, which in the 

 live fish are phosphorescent, giving these fish their common name. Two 

 species of this family occur in our waters. Myctophmn californiense 

 (Eigenmann and Bigenmann), (Fig. 25) may be termed the Pacific 

 Lantern-fish. No figure of this species was available and an allied 

 species of Myctophum has been reproduced in the accompanying cuts. 

 Bean's Lantern-fish, Tarletonbeania crenularis (Jordan and Gilbert) is 



