250 NATUEAL HISTORY OV AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



It caunot be said that they are at present of great economic importance, Storer, writing in 

 18G7, said: "By many of our fishermen it is considered very delicate; the smallest specimens, from 

 five to ten pounds, are quite palatable when fried or broiled, the skin having been previously 

 removed; it is also occasionally split and salted or dried and smoked, and is said to be, when thus 

 prepared, very good."' 



Parnell wrote: "It is quite common in the rocky parts of the Firth of Forth, and also found 

 on the haddock lines, and is occasionally taken in the same nets above Queen's Ferry. About 

 June the young are about two feet in length, and are sold in the market for sixpence each. The 

 appearance of this fish is not very prepossessing, and the natives are not aware of its quality as 

 food; but if properly dressed and disguised by the head being cut off, it is considered equal to 

 many of the marine fishes.'" 



Yarrell says: "According to Mr. Neill, specimens of small size, about two feet in length, are 

 frequently brought to the Bdinboro' market; and those who are able to overcome the prejudices 

 caused by its appearance find it gQod food. Mr. Hoy and Mr. Low have borne their testimony to 

 the excellence of its flesh, and Mr. Donovan states that it is delicious. It may be observed here 

 that this is the general character of the flesh of those fishes that feed on crustaceous animals. It 

 is eaten by the Greenlanders and Norwegians, as well as by most of the inhabitants of the northern 

 part of Europe, the head and skin being first taken ofi". The skin is converted into very durable 

 bags and pockets.^ Malm writes : " They occur along the whole coast of Bohuslan, and are caught 

 most frequently of all from March to May." 



Frank Buckland remarks : " Notwithstanding the ugly appearance of this fish its flesh is said 

 to be of a very good flavor. It is sometimes seen hung up in the shops of London fish-mongers, 

 and I can, for the most part, say that it is very good ; I can compare it to nothing but a nice veal 

 chop." DeKay also bears testimony to their excellence, saying that "when smoked their flesh is 

 very similar to that of salmon." Schlegel says they are not eaten on the coast of Holland. 



On the Pacific coast there is a fish of a closely-related genus commonly known as the Eel, 

 Anarriehthys ocellatus. This species is commonly known as the "Eel," or "Wolf-eel," the latter 

 name probably having been given by some one familiar with the Atlantic Wolf-fish. The name 

 " Azia" is given to it by the Dalmatian fishermen on Puget Sound, and that of "Morina" by the 

 Italians at Monterey. It reaches a length of eight feet and a weight of about thirty pounds. 

 The average length is five to six feet. It ranges from Monterey to Puget Sound, lurking among 

 the rocks, and occasionally left by the falling tide. It is not rare about San Francisco, but 

 becomes much more abundant northward. It feeds on crustaceans, echinoderms, and fishes. Ac- 

 cording to Mr. Lockington the broken shells of Echinarachnius excentricus are often found in its 

 stomach. Nothing special is known of its breeding habits, enemies, or diseases. As a food-fish 

 it meets -always with a ready sale. 



77. THE BLENNY FAMILY— BLENNIID.a;. 



The Blenny family is represented on the Atlantic coast of the United States by two species 

 of insignificant size and absolutely without value. Upon the Pacific coast they are represented 

 by numerous small fishes, mostly living about the rocks between tide-marks, and often exceedingly 

 abundant. A few of them live in the kelp, and some of them swim freely in shallow water. Large 

 individuals are occasionally brought into the markets, especially of Xiphister miicostis, Gebedichthys 



'Fishes of Massadmsetts, p. 100. 

 "Fishes of the Firth of Forth, p. 240. 

 3 British Fishes, 1836, vol. 1, p. 248. 



