272 
AMERICAN FISHES. 
In Alaska, according to Dr. Bean, the most important chiroid fishes 
are Opliiodon elongatus , Anoplopoma fimbria , Hexagrammus decagranimus, 
H. lagocephaius, H. ordinatus , H. asper , and the “ Yellow-fish,” “ Striped 
Fish,” or “ Atka Mackerel,” Pleurogranimus moncpterygius (Pallas) Gill, 
which is the chief of them all. This fish is most abundant about the 
Aleutian chain and the Shumagins, its northern limit as now understood 
being about Kodiak, and its western limit at Atka. It congregates in 
immense schools, and can be taken in purse-seines like the mackerel, 
which it strongly resembles in taste after being salted in the same manner. 
In this connection, not because of zoological affinities, but in order 
that a majority of the principal food-fishes of the Pacific slope may be dis¬ 
cussed in one chapter, it seems appropriate to refer to the Embiotocoids 
or Surf-fishes. Full descriptions of the various members of this multiform 
genus are given by President Jordan in his “ Synopsis” and in the great 
Fisheries quarto. Flere I can only quote what the same authority has to 
say of the group as a whole : 
‘ ‘ This remarkable group of fishes forms the most characteristic feature 
of the fauna of our Pacific coast. Of the nineteen species now known, all 
but one ( Ditrema T^gimincki of Japan) occur on the coast of California, 
and most of them in very great abundance. The species are most of them 
very similar in habits and economic value, and the following general 
remarks are proffered before proceeding to the discussion of the different 
species. 
“ The general name “ Perch” is applied to these fishes everywhere 
along the coast. This unfortunate misnomer came about from their re¬ 
semblance to the sun-fishes or “ perch ” of the Southern States, and to the 
“ white perch,” Roccus americanus , of the East. On the coast of Oregon 
the larger species (especially Damalichthys argyrosomus ) are called 
“ Porgy ” or “ Porgee,” in allusion to their undoubted resemblance to 
the scup or porgee of the East. The names “ Minny, ” “ Sparada ” and 
“ Moharra,” are also applied to the smaller species northward. About 
San Francisco, the name “ Perch ” is given to them all, as well as to Archo- 
plites interruptus , and separate names for the different species are seldom 
heard. From Monterey southward, the name “Surf-fish” is in common 
use, although the name “ Perch” is still more common. 
“ The largest, Rhacochiliis toxotes , reaches a weight of four pounds ; the 
smallest, Abcona minima , a length of four or five inches. So far as we are 
able to judge, the growth of the young are quite rapid, as the specimens 
are about half grown the first winter, and probably reach full size in two 
and a half to three winters—perhaps, in some cases, in the second year. 
“ The center of distribution of this group is from Santa Barbara to 
