Two Californian Pomacentrids — L imbaugh 
49 
Fig. 9. A tight group of blacksmiths almost completely hiding an Oxyjulis calif ornica. The Oxyjulis may 
be seen in the center of the school and only his head is visible. (Photograph by Charles H. Turner, State of 
California Department of Fish and Game.) 
Subadults seek out cleaning fishes and ag- 
gressively place themselves in positions that 
make it almost mandatory for the cleaners to 
feed on their external parasites (Fig. 8) . Groups 
of blacksmiths completely hiding a cleaning fish 
are a common sight over shallow rocky reefs 
( Fig. 9 ) . While having their parasites removed 
they will assume almost any position: on their 
sides, heads up, heads down, or even upside 
down. If the cleaner should try to leave, they 
will follow and crowd in front of it preventing 
its escape. 
Use as Food 
They are sometimes found in the fresh fish 
markets (Barnhart, 1936), and they form a 
very small proportion of the southern California 
"perch” catch (Roedel, 1953). The quality of 
their flesh is excellent but they are seldom 
caught on hook-and-line because of their small 
mouths and general feeding habits. 
The blacksmith population remains at a high 
level. 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
John E. Fitch, California Department of Fish 
and Game, and Carl L. Hubbs and Richard 
Rosenblatt, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 
assisted in the preparation of the final draft. 
E. Yale Dawson, Beaudette Foundation, Solvang, 
California, identified the algal material in the 
garibaldi nest. Suggestions made by James Stew- 
