THE TILE-FISHES. 361 



"In California," writes Pr fessor Jordan, "there is a species, Caulolatilus anomalus (Cooper), 

 Gill, very similar to that of the Gulf of Mexico, and of some j)romiueuce as a food-flsh, and known 

 as the 'White-fish' or ' Blanquillo.' It reaches a length of about thirty inches and a weight of 

 ten or fifteen pounds, though its average weight is four or five pounds. It ranges from Monterey 

 southward to Mexico, being very abundant about the Santa Barbara Islands. It lives about rocks 

 in water of considerable depth and takes the hook freely. Its food consists of crustaceans and 

 fishes; it is considered to be a fish of fair but not excellent quality when fresh. When salted and 

 dried it is graded as first quality with the barracuda and the yellow-tail. South of Point 

 Concepcion it is one of the most important food-fishes, but is rarely sent to the market of San 

 Francisco." 



An allied iorm is Bathymaster signatus Cope, the "Ronchil," found in deep water from Puget 

 Sound northward. 



113. THE RED MULLET FAMILY— MULLID^. 



This family is represented in our waters by a single species, Upeneus Jiavovittatus, which 

 has been observed in two or three instances on the coast of Soubhern New England, and is doubt- 

 less an estray from the West Indies. It has not yet been brought to light on the Gulf coast of 

 the United States. A closely related species is the Mullet or Surmullet of Europe, the Mullus of 

 the ancient Eomans, highly prized by them. This fish was brought living into the banquet-hall 

 that the guests might admire the brilliant changes of color exhibited in its expiring struggles. 



Another species of this family is occasionally taken at Pensacola, but is not sufficiently abun- 

 dant to possess any considerable economic importance. 



114. THE ICOSTEUS FAMILY. 



This family consists of two small fishes, peculiar to our California coast, which live in 

 considerable depths of water: Icichthys Lockingtoni J. & G., only one specimen of which is known; 

 and Icosteus wnigmaticus Lockington, likewise rarely taken, and only in deep water. 



In the last, two species the skeleton is scarcely ossified, and the body is as limp as a rag. 



115. THE BERYX FAMILY— BERYCIDJE. 



Of this family, which is widely distributed throughout the temperate and tropical seas, and 

 which has many representatives in the deeper parts of the ocean, only one species here appropriate 

 to be mentioned occurs upon our coast, viz, the Bermuda " Squirrel-fish," Holocentrum pentacan- 

 thum. This fish ranges south to Brazil, east to the Bermudas, and is very abundant in the West 

 Indies. Professor Gill has recorded the capture of a specimen at Newport, Rhode Island, in 1873. 

 It is abundant on the Florida coast south of Cedar Keys, a few being found, as stragglers, north 

 and west of that limit. It is caught with hook and line in all the channels and on the reefs. 

 Stearns obtained several specimens at Pensacola Bay in 1876 and in 1882. He testifies that he has 

 eaten them frequently and that they are as good a pan-fish as any on the coast. They attain a 

 length of twelve to fifteen inches. About the Bermudas they are very abundant, and are conspicuous 

 on account of their brilliant red hue and their habit of skulking in holes about the reefs. They 

 feed upon small fishes and breed abundantly, apparently spawning in the summer season. At 

 Cuba this fish is called the " Matajuelo." 



