HABITS OP THE SURF- FISHES. 277 



Their range probably extends from Cerros Island to Sitka; certainly no farther. Most of them live 

 in shallow water, on a sandy bottoia, both in the open sea and in sheltered bays. A seine drawn 

 in the surf will often be filled with the silvery species {Amphistichus : Holconotus), and a seine drawn 

 in a bay may be equally full of Ditrema laterale, Ditrema JacJcsoni, etc. One sjiecies is confined 

 to the fresh waters. Nearly all of them feed chiefly on Crustacea, together with such small fish as 

 they can swallow. The species of Abeona are chiefly herbivorous, feeding on seaweed. 



The Embiotocoids are all oviparous. The young are fifteen to twenty in number, and are 

 brought forth in summer: when born, the little fish are from three-fourths of an inch to two and 

 a half inches in length, according to the species. They are closely packed together in the uterus, 

 the inner surface of which forms folds partly separating the young from each other. The young 

 are ai first excessively compressed, with the soft parts of the vertical fins excessively elevated. As 

 their development proceeds they resemble more and more the parent, and when born tlaeir form is 

 quite similar, the body, however, more compressed, the fins higher, and the color usually red. 



Impregnation probably takes place in the fall. In January most of the species have the young 

 half grown as to length, and when the parent fish is caught the young readily slip out from the 

 ovary. From January to June the fish-stalls where these fishes are sold are littered with these 

 fcetal fish. Little is known of the place of spawning, but I suppose that the young are simply 

 extruded in the water just outside the breakers and left to shift for themselves. As to the mode 

 of impregnation, we have made no observations. Dr. Blake thinks that the fleshy thickening on 

 the anal fin of the male is to give the female something to hold to with the ventral fins, and that 

 the two sexes approach each other, ventral surfaces together, and with their heads in opposite 

 directions. They have no special enemies except the larger predatory fishes and the fishermen, 

 who destroy great numbers at the breeding time. No diseases have been noticed. 



The species are all, witli the exception of two or three of the smallest, used as food. Their 

 flesh is watery, flavorless, and much inferior to that of the Scorpsenoid, Scisenoid, and Percoid 

 fishes, and only their abundance gives them value. Great quantities of them are consumed by the 

 Chinese. 



Alfionb Bhacochilus toxotes Agassiz). — This species is called "Alfione" at Soquel, "Sprat" 

 at Santa Cruz; elsewhere it is simply "Perch." It reaches a length of eighteen inches and a 

 weight of five pounds, being much the largest of the group. It ranges from San Pedro to Cape 

 Mendocino, and is generally common, although not nearly so abundant as some of the others. As 

 a food-fish it is considered the best of this very indifferent group. 



PoRG-BE {Damalichthys argyrosomus (Girard) J. & G.). — On the coast of Oregon and Wash- 

 ington this species is known as "Porgee"; elsewhere simply as "Perch," or "White Perch." It 

 reaches a weight of two and a half pounds. It ranges from San Pedro to Vancouver's Island, its 

 abundance steadily increasing to the northward so far as traced. At San Francisco it is rather 

 common, but south of Point Concepcion rather rare. As a food-fish it ranks next to the preceding. 



White Perch (Ditrema furcatum (Grd.) Gunther). — This species occasionally reaches a weight 

 of a pound, but is usually smaller. It ranges from Cape Mendocino to the Mexican line, being 

 everywhere exceedingly abundant. It lives in sheltered bays. It is always present in the markets 

 and is held in low esteem. 



Ditrema atripes Jor. & Gilb. — This species reaches a weight of one and a half pounds. It 

 has been noticed only in the Bay of Monterey, where it is generally rather common, being taken 

 in seines near the shore. 



Blue Surf-pish (Ditrema laterale (Agassiz) Gunther). — This species is known as the "Blue 

 Perch" or " Surf-fish." It reaches a weight of about two and a half pounds. It ranges from Santa 



