SCOPELIDE-STONE-FISH FAMILY.

130. Synodus lucioceps is a very rare and curious little fish caught in San Francisco Bay, and little known.

CLUPEIDE-HERRING FAMILY.

The California Shad (131. Alausa Californica) is a rare species as far as known, and only taken as yet near San Francisco.

Two species of Herrings are caught along nearly the whole coast, and in great numbers. Though of different structure they are not distinguished by fishermen as of different quality, and in the great abundance of better fish are not much used fresh, though salted or dried to some extent, especially by Chinamen. (132. Clupea mirabilis; 133. Meletta coerulea).

Several species of Anchovies, or Sardines, remarkable for their size, are caught plentifully along the whole coast. Though of a tribe celebrated as a delicacy in Europe, they have not yet attracted much attention here. (134. Engraulis mordax; 135. E. delicatissimus ; 136. E. compressus; 137. E. nanus). Length from three to six inches.

CYPRINODONTIDE KILLY-FISH FAMILY.

Three little species, not exceeding four inches long, and of no known use except for bait, are caught along our southern coast. (138. Cyprinodon Californiensis; 139. Fundulus parvipinnis ; 140. F. ————?

MURENIDE-EEL FAMILY.

The Pacific Conger (141. Muraena mordax) is common near our southern coast and islands, where they grow to a length of four feet or more, and are considered good eating.

The Californian Snake-fish (142. Ophidiurus Californiensis) is caught rarely at San Francisco and southward. It resembles an eel in form, and grows twenty inches or more in length. (Myrichthys tigrinus, Girard, from Astoria, Oregon, may be the same).

CYPRINIDE-CARP FAMILY.

Many species are caught in the fresh waters of this State, but none are considered very good eating, as better fish are generally obtainable. The first three, are universally called Suckers, and, as well known, have the mouth underneath the head. They grow a foot and a half long. (143. Catostomus occidentalis; 144. C. labiatus; 145. Acomus generosus?)

We have no fish very much like the Carp in form, and several of our largest species of this family are so unlike any English or American kinds that no distinctive name has yet been given to them. The two

following have been sold in San Francisco market as "Salmon Trout," but their very inferior quality soon exposes the imposition. They grow to a weight of six or eight pounds, and in external form are not very unlike trout. (146. Mylopharodon robustus; 147. M. conocephalus, young of same?) A closely allied fish, (148. Mylocheilus fraterculus), resembling the English Barbel, is caught in the rivers near Monterey.

The first mentioned below has also been sold under the name of Salmon Trout, though quite distinct from No. 146, except in color, which is nearly alike in all our Cyprinoids. It grows to the length of three feet, weighing sixteen pounds, and it is said even as high as thirty. The second is confined to the Colorado river, having nearly the same appearance, and is there called "Salmon," though a poor substitute for that fine fish-there unknown. The third, very similar, is caught near Monterey. (149. Ptychocheilus grandis ; 150. P. lucius ; 151. P. rapax.)

The next two most resemble the "Buffalo-fish" of the Mississippi valley, old ones having the back very much humped, and are confined to the Colorado valley, where they are about the best fish caught. They grow a foot or two in length. (152. Gila robusta ; 153. G. elegans ; probably young of No. 152.)

Of the following, No. 154, resembles the English Dace, and is found in Tulare valley. Nos. 155 and 156, inhabiting the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys, come nearest to the Roach. No. 157 may be called a Tench, and is also from the San Joaquin. None of them are known to exceed a foot in length. (154. Luxilus occidentalis; 155. Tigoma conformis; 15.6 T. crassa; 157. Siboma crassicauda.)

No. 158 is near enough to the English Bleak to inherit that name, and inhabits the Sacramento. No. 159 inhabits the southeastern rivers, (Merced, Mojave, etc.), and, with allied species, resembles nearly the true Minnow, growing about six inches long. Nos. 160 and 161 are nearest to the Chub, and inhabit the San Joaquin, Salinas, etc. The former has been also sold by the names of "Pike," and "Herring ;" the name "Pike" being also given sometimes to Nos. 149, 150, 151, 152, and 153-though there are no true Pike west of the Rocky Mountains. (158. Orthodon microlepidotus; 159. Algansea formosa; 160. Lavinia exilicauda; 161. L. harengus.)

The remaining species are like the English Gudgeon in form, having little cord-like feelers at the sides of the mouth, and may go by that name. They inhabit the interior rivers, growing about a foot long, and are probably the fish called "split-tail" in some places. (162. Pogonichthys inæquilobus; 163. P. symmetricus; 164. P. argyrei

osus). Further comparison will probably unite these species, and perhaps others of this family.

CARTILAGINOUS FISHES.

These have the skeleton only partly ossified, and many have no bones at all (unless the teeth are called bones) their place being supplied by a cartilaginous frame. Some have the skin thickened into a kind of shell, and in nearly all, the ordinary scales are modified into bony plates, spines, or altogether wanting. They are not generally

eaten.

The California Sun-fish (165. Orthagoriscus analis) resembles that of the North Atlantic, having a nearly circular form, with the fins behind. One has been taken near San Francisco seven and a half feet in length, and weighing 632 pounds! They are sometimes harpooned for the oil they contain.

The California Balloon-fish (166. Gastrophysus politus) is slightly prickly, a foot long or more, and can swell itself out, when irritated, into a nearly globular form. Found as yet only near San Diego.

The Large Sea-horse (167. Hippocampus ingens) is about nine inches long, and like the Atlantic species has the head formed like that of a horse, the body enclosed in an angular plated armor, and the long tail suited for holding on to sea-weeds, etc. It has only been met with at San Diego and southward

The Pipe-fish furnish us several species, much like those of the Atlantic; slender, plated fish, with the mouth drawn out into a tube, open at the end. They are found along the whole coast, and grow six to twelve inches long. (168. Syngnathus Californiensis; 169. S. griseolineatus; 170. S. leptorhynchus; 171. S. dimidiatus; 172. S. arundinaceus; 173. Dermatostethus punctipinnis).

The Sturgeons enter the rivers near San Francisco, and north, in large numbers, and are of great size. The first mentioned is called. White Sturgeon, and is the largest fish sold in the markets, often weighing one hundred to one hundred and fifty pounds, and sometimes as high as three hundred. The second, called "green," is, however, said to grow fifteen feet long, and to weigh eight hundred pounds! The third is little known. (174. Antaceus brachyrhynchus; 175. A. acutirostris ; 176. A. medirostris).

The Elephant-fish, or Skooma, (177. Hydrolagus Colliei) is a curious, shark-like fish, two feet long, and with a pointed tail, an elongated snout, and plate-like teeth. The Indians esteem them as food.

The Sharks are numerous along our whole coast, and some of the larger kinds are taken in large numbers for the oil which is extracted from their livers. The first is known to grow six feet in length, and sharks of ten feet are said to follow vessels near the coast-perhaps of the second species. The others have not been found over three or four feet long, and no instances of any of them having attacked persons when bathing have been recorded. (178. Notorhynchus maculatus ; 179. Isoplagiodon Henlei; 180. Triacis semifasciatus; 181. Gyropleurodus Francisci; 182. Acanthias Sucklii, the Dog-fish; 183. Sphyramalleus, the Hammer-headed Shark; 184. Alopias vulpes? the Thrasher.) The California Angel-fish (185. Rhina Californica) is like the Atlantic species, a sort of wide-flattened Shark, with wing-like fins on each side, and grows three or four feet long. It occurs rarely near San Francisco.

The Ray family has also many representatives, but they are not considered of much use, though some are eaten by the Chinese and others. The first grows four feet long; most of the others are nearly as broad as long, or broader, and the Torpedo much resembles that of the western Atlantic. The three last, called Sting-rays, have a spine in the tail, with which they inflict severe wounds. Some of these have been found eighteen feet wide. (186. Rhinobatus productus; 187. Rhinoptera vespertilio; 188. Uraptera binoculata.; 189. Torpedo Californica; 190. Urolophus Halleri; 191. Pteroplatea marmorata; 192. Trygon ·?)

The Lampreys are the Eel-like fish of this division. They have no bones, and scarcely any teeth, only sufficient to make a slight incision in the skin of the fishes on which they fasten themselves to suck their blood like leeches, thus forming a link with the next lower class of animals. They enter the fresh water streams in large numbers in spring, and are occasionally caught by hand in shallow waters, being highly prized by some foreigners, though not much esteemed by Americans. They grow two or three feet long. (193. Lampetra plumbea; 194. Entosphenus epohexadon; 195. E. ciliatus.)

Finally, there is a little worm-like fish found as yet only at San Diego, (though similar ones occur on the shores of the Atlantic), so low in development that it has no eyes, heart, or even brain, and looks like a bit of white gristle, flattened at the sides, and tapering towards each end. It may be called the "Worm-fish," (196. Branchiostoma - ?) Its length is about two inches, and it lives buried in the sand.

MOLLUSCA-SHELL-FISH.

To mention the numerous species of this class found in California would be impossible here, so we must limit this notice to a few eatable kinds.

The so-called "Date Fish," or "Rock Oysters," are several species. of bivalves, which bore into soft rocks or clay between tides, from which they are easily extracted, and are considered among the best of the class for the table. Similar kinds are called "Piddocks" on some parts of the Atlantic shores. (1. Zirphea crispata; 2. Pholadidea penita; 3. Parapholas Californica).

Some other harder-shelled species are found with these and not usually distinguished, though much inferior for eating. (4. Saxicava pholadis; 5. Platyodon cancellatus).

Much larger shell-fish, burrowing in softer earth, are occasionally obtained, and called Squirt-clams. Their shells are often six inches long, and one animal enough for a good meal. (6. Glycimeris generosa; 7. Schizothorus Nuttalli).

Several kinds, called Razor-fish, are found in the sandy sea-beaches and bays, but have not yet been much sought for, though considered about third rate for eating. (8. Solen sicarius; 9. Solecurtus Californianus; 10. Machara patula).

Several kinds, confounded as "Soft-shell Clams, "Soft-shell Clams," are abundant along several parts of the coast, and some of them much eaten, though liable to have sand or mud inside the shell. They grow three or four inches wide, and are flattened. (11. Sanguinolaria Nuttalii; 12. Macoma secta; 13. M. nasuta; 14. Tellina Bodegensis). Several others might be mentioned, but are rarely obtained alive.

The "Hard-shell Clams," "Quahogs," etc., are numerous, and therefore much eaten, though inferior to most of the preceding for the table. They are dug at low water in most sandy bays, and the largest grow only about four inches wide. (15. Chione succincta; 16. Tapes tenerrima; 17. T. laciniata; 18. T. staminea; 19. Saxidomus gracilis; 20. S. Nuttallii). No. 18 is the most common at San Francisco.

The "Cockles" are sometimes dug for food, but not so commonly, though very good for soups. They are sometimes four inches wide and three in thickness. (21. Cardium corbis; 22. C. quadragenarium).

The Mussels" are abundant along the whole coast, and the first named is most common, growing sometimes nine inches in length. The second, also found in the North Atlantic, is smaller, and found chiefly in brackish bays. (23. Mytilus Californianus; 24. M. edulis).