IOO 
AMERICAN FISHES. 
mustard seed. Young fish are seen in great abundance. They are taken 
by hook with mullet or clam bait, and also in cast-nets and seines. One 
hundred are often taken by a fisherman in a day. They are highly prized 
for food, and are occasionally salted. They are sometimes sent in ice to 
Savannah and Charleston. “On the Gulf coast,” writes Mr. Stearns, 
“they are very abundant, living and breeding in the bays and bayous. 
They spawn in winter or early spring, and the young of different sizes 
may be seen in May and June. The adult fish live in deep water, while 
the young remain near shore. Many are caught by hook and line, and 
with the seine.” 
A fish known as the “ Sheepshead Porgy ” is said by Stearns to be 
common in the Gulf of Mexico and about the Florida Reefs. It is caught 
with hook and line, and is sold in the markets of Key West. There are 
other species, known by the name “ Porgy,” which are found in this re¬ 
gion, such as Calamus bajonado , common also at Charleston, where it is 
called the “White-boned Porgy,” the “Jolt-head Porgy,” of Key West, 
C. megacephalus , C. arctifrons , the “ Shad Porgy ” of “ Grass Porgy” of 
Key West, and C. macrops. 
California has two important species belonging to this family, concern¬ 
ing which Professor Jordan has communicated the following information : 
The Blue-fish, Girella nigricans , inappropriately so called, reaches a 
length of about fourteen inches, and a weight of three or four pounds. It 
ranges from Monterey southward, and is very abundant about the Santa Bar¬ 
bara Islands. The young of this species are common inhabitants of the 
rock-pools. The Bluefish is entirely herbivorous. It is a food-fish of good 
quality, but the flesh softens sooner after death than is usually the case with 
related fishes. It is very tenacious of life. 
The Half-moon, Scorpis californiensis, more commonly known by its 
Spanish name, Medialuna , reaches a length of more than a foot, and a 
weight of three or four pounds. It ranges from Point Conception south¬ 
ward, chiefly about the Santa Barbara Islands, where it is exceedingly abun¬ 
dant, and, in the winter, forms the greater part of the catch at San Pedro. 
It feeds chiefly upon crustaceans, but is, to some extent, herbivorous. It 
takes the hook readily, is an excellent food-fish, and, in the Los Angeles 
market, is second only to the barracuda in importance. 
