THE DIAMOND FLOUNDEE, 185 



The Diamond Flotjndee. — Hypsopsetta guttulata (Girard) Gill. 



In the neighborhood of San Francisco this spiscies is known as the "Turbot," many of the 

 dealers stoutly averring that it is identical with the English flsh of that name. South of Point 

 Concepcion the name Diamond Flounder is in use. This refers to the rhombic form of the flsh, 

 and the name seems an appropriate one. It reaches a length of eighteen inches and a weight of 

 four pounds, but as usually seen in the market its length is about one foot. 



The geographic range of this species seems to be from Cape Mendocino to Magdalena Bay. 

 It seems to be more plentiful in the bays of Tomales and San Diego than elsewhere, apparently 

 preferring shallow water and sandy bottoms. It is one of the more abundant species, forming 

 perhaps two per cent, of the catch of Flounders in the neighborhood of San Francisco. 



Its food consists mainly of Crustacea and small mpllusks. JSTofehing special is known of its 

 breeding habits. Its enemies are those of all Flounders, and no diseases have been noticed.- As 

 a food-fish it ranks high. It is one of the most flrm-fleshed of the Flounders. 



TSE "SOLES" OF CALIFORNIA. 



Lbpibopsetta bilinbata (Ayres) Gill. 



ThiS'Species has no other distinctive name than "Sole." It reaches a length of twenty inches 

 and a weight of five or six pounds. Its average weight in the market is about three pounds. It 

 ranges from Monterey to Alaska, and its relative abundance steadily increases as we go north- 

 ward from Monterey to Vancouver's Island. In Puget Sound it ifiakes about thirty per cent, of 

 the flounder catch ; about San Francisco barely two per cent. It lives in rocky places in deep 

 water, and most of those taken about San Francisco come from the neigh borhood of the Farallones. 

 It takes the hook more readily than any of the other small- mouthed Flounders, and considerable 

 numbers are taken by the Chinese on their set-lines, especially at Monterey. They feed chiefly on 

 crustaceans and small fishes. 



Nothing special is known of its breeding habits, and nothing distinctive of enemies or 

 diseases. It is perhaps more subject to the parasitism of the fish-louse than any of the other 

 species. i 



Dr. Bean found this fish abundant in Alaska, and one of the most important of the flat fishes 

 in that territory.' It is there regarded as an excellent food-fish . The natives spear it as it lies 

 entirely concealed in the loose sand along shore, where it comes at eventide to feed on small 

 crustaceans. 



Pakophrts ischyeus Jordan and Gilbert. 



Four specimens only of this species have been seen. These were taken with a seine at Seattle. 

 It resembles the preceding in appearance, and probably in habits. Those seen were about eighteen 

 inches long, and weighed about three pounds. 



" This is a coarse, rough fish in its general appearance, greatly resembling the Flounder, Pleu- 

 ronectes stellatus, but differing from it in the ctenoid scales, and in the presence of an accessory 

 lateral line, characters in which it agrees with the next species. It has hitherto been found only 

 in Puget Sound, and reaches a length of about eighteen inches." — LocMngton. 



I Paeopheys vetulus Girard. 



This species is always called Sole by the fishermen. It is one of the smallest species, reach- 

 ing a length of about fourteen inches and a weight of about two pounds. Those usually seen in 



