A CONTRIBUTION 
 
 TO OUK KN(t\VLi;i)(;K OF THE 
 
 FOOD FISHBS 
 
 OREGON COAST 
 
 FROM SPKCIMEN.S COLLECTED KY 
 
 B. J. BRETHERTOJN^ 
 
 REPORT OF STATE BIOLOGIST 
 
 JULY, 1900 
 
 SALEM, OREGON 
 W. II. LEEDS, STATE PRINTER 
 
 1{)0U 
 
A CONTRIBUTION 
 
 TO DITK KN()\VI^EDGK OF TIIK 
 
 FOOD FISHES 
 
 OREGON COAST 
 
 FKOM Sl'EC'IMKNS COJjIjECTKD 11 V 
 
 B. J. BRETHERTON 
 
 REPORT OF STATE BIOLOGIST 
 
 ^5 
 
 JULY, 1900 
 
 SAliEM, OREGON 
 
 W. H. LEEPS, STATE PRINTER 
 
 15)00 
 

 S\1 
 
 p7 
 
 Z^^ 
 
A CONTRIBUTION TO OUR KNOWLEDGE 
 
 Of THE FOOD FISHES OF THE 
 
 OREGON COAST. 
 
 Biological Laboratory, ) 
 
 University of Oregon, > 
 
 July 15, 1900. \ 
 
 His Excellency^ T. T. Gecr, Salem, Ore</on : 
 
 The following notes are based upon a collection of our coast 
 fishes made by Bernard J. Bretherton, of Newport, Oregon, 
 presented to the State University, and identified by the writei'. 
 The present collection is to be regarded as a nucleus for further 
 aggregations, representing in time, it is hoped, all the species 
 of fish in Oregon. 
 
 To anyone who has made a study of ichthyology it is appar- 
 ent that it would be out of place, and an extravagance to in- 
 troduce here the long, technical analyses given in scientific 
 treatises upon the subject, and it has seemed best to give, in 
 each case, a brief popular description, which, with the aid of 
 the illustration may help one to recognize the sj)ecies. 
 
 It will be noted that many of our more common fishes are 
 not listed, the flounders for instance, and some others familiar 
 to our citizens. In all probability the collector has left some 
 of the more easily obtainable forms until later, with the thought 
 that he can easily secure them at his convenience. Mr. Breth- 
 erton has made careful notes on the colors of the fresh fish, 
 and has, further, endeavored to list the stomach contents as 
 throwing some light upon their food habits. His notes are 
 given in quotation. Coll. No. means "collector's number" 
 referring to the number wdiich came with the specimens. 
 
 In the case of a few doubtful species my identification was 
 either corroborated by the United States Fish Commission or 
 
 l.ofC. 
 
4 FOOD FISHES OF THE OREGON COAST. 
 
 the correct name given. The commission has also furnished 
 us with six cuts at cost price. Acknowledgment of these 
 courtesies is hereby tendered. 
 
 It may not be out of place to mention our experience in 
 preserving fish in a way to best retain their colors. We have 
 found that if the fresh specimens are placed in very weak for- 
 m;iSSii (3% made from 40% stock solution) and after remain- 
 ing for a week or so in this, changed to a fresh solution of the 
 same strength and jDlaced on exhibition most of the colors are 
 wonderfully preserved, and the liquid does not yellow with 
 age as does alcohol in which fish are preserved. 
 
 In addition to this growing collection of Oregon fish, the 
 State University has over fifty specimens from the Columbia 
 River Basin presented a few years ago by the United States 
 Fish Commission. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 F. L. WASHBURN, 
 
 State Biologist. 
 
KKi. 1.— CALIFORNIA SMELT. 
 
 FKt. 2.— HERRIN(i, (\ MirdhiJis. 
 
FOOD FISHES OF THE OREGON COAST 
 
 CALIFORNIA SMELT. 
 
 {Alhrrinujisis Cali/orniciis — GlRAKD.) 
 
 About eig-hteen inches lonu-, a '"translucent g-reen" with a somewhat sil- 
 very or lead-colored lateral stripe; some yellow on g-ill covers. Eye small. 
 body elongate. One specimen collected. Given bj^ Jordan and Evermann as 
 very abundant on coast of California from Cape Mendocino to San Diegfo; 
 found in schools near shore, and an important food fish. See Fig. 1. 
 
 CALIFORNIA TOMCOD. 
 
 [Microfjadus proximus — Girard. ) 
 
 This little fish really needs no description. Just why it should be desig-- 
 nated California Tomcod is a question, for it is in summer one of our most 
 abundant, though by no means the best, of our salt water food fishes. Very 
 common from Monterey to Alaska. Two specimens: Collector's Nos. 4 and 
 5. ''August 10. Silvery white: pale brown on dorsal surface. Contents of 
 stomach indefinable." 
 
 CALIFORNIA IIERRINCx. 
 
 (Clupea pollasii—CvviKR and Vai.enciennes.) 
 
 Bluish above: silvery on sides and below. From sixteen to eighteen inches 
 long. Abundant from San Diego to Kamschatka. A well-known fish on our 
 coast and fully as abundant here as in California. Two specimens collected, 
 Nos. 6 and 7. "x\ugust 10. Stomachs empty."' Fig. 2 represents (\ niiraJdis, 
 in general appearance resembling the species under discussion. 
 
 CALIFORNIA SARDINE. 
 
 ( (^lupdnodon cceruleus — Girard.) 
 
 Another misnomer, for. under the name of •'Herring," this and the pre- 
 ceding are at times exceedingly abundant in our bays, and very highly es- 
 teemed as food fishes. In general appearance like the last, but larger. — 
 about twelve inches. Found from Puget Sound to Magdalena Bay. Two 
 specimens. Nos. 8 and 9. "Norway Herring, a larger and plumi)er fish than 
 the preceding." See middle figure in Plate I: photographed from a s]ieci- 
 men presei'ved in foi'malin. 
 
FOOD FISHES OF THE OREGON COAST. 
 
 ALASKA GREEN FISH. 
 
 ( Hcxagrammos octfigraiimni.i.) 
 
 Called "sea trout" by our fishermen. Varies much in coloration, accord- 
 ing- to ag-e, etc., and likely to be confused with H. Stellcrl, the "Greenling.'' 
 
 Two specimens, 18 and 16. 
 
 No. 18. "Sea trout — September 7, 18i)9. Dorsal surface and sides light 
 slate, blotched with pale green, each blotch surrounded by several dark 
 umber spots; ventral surface, lighter: pectoral fins spotted with pale mus- 
 tard yellow. 
 
 No. 16. " Medicine fish. Ventral surface, brownish yellow with greenish 
 tinge. Dorsal surface, burnt umber. Stomach contents, mussels. "" 
 
 ROCK TROUT, GREENLING, BOREGAT, BODIERA. 
 
 ( Hexagrammus, decagrnmmus — Pai^las.) 
 
 Much like the last and liable to be confused with it. Sexes very unlike 
 in color. The females are extremely variable in coloration. I quote from 
 Jordan and Evermann to show the great variation in individuals and the con- 
 sequent confusion among local fishermen: "Adults highly colored; the 
 males with large sky-blue spots ; the females with smaller red or orange 
 spots ; young sometimes plain brown with dai'k humeral spots. Males clear 
 brownish olive of varying shade, often tinged with bluish or coppery and 
 vaguely blotched, often with small blue spots ; head and anterior part or 
 body with rather large sky-blue spots, each surrounded by a rusty ring, 
 these smaller and more numerous on the top of the head ; lips with bluish 
 spots, upper fins brown, mottled ; ventrals and anal dusky bluish ; pectorals 
 dark, both rays and membranes crossed by sharply defined whitish reticula- 
 tions, so that the fins appear to be profusely spotted with white. Females 
 brownish, somewhat tinged with reddish, closely covered wath round spots 
 of a reddish-brown ; these spots usually quite small and uniform over the 
 whole body, back and sides ; dorsal fin spotted on the scaly part, the fins 
 otherwise plain reddish or bluish ; the ventral usually dusky; pectorals light 
 
 orange, without markings. Other females have the ground 
 
 color slaty blue, with round orange spots considerably larger than usual and 
 becoming vermiculations on the head ; dorsal fin orange, clouded at base 
 with blue ; soft dorsal edged with bluish ; pectorals plain orange ; belly 
 
 white. These vary into the ordinary type Length, eighteen 
 
 inches. Abundant from Point Conception to Kodiak Island, Alaska, es- 
 pecially about San Francisco. A common food fish. See Fig. 3, also upper 
 figure in Plate I ; photographed from a specimen preserved in formalin. 
 

 ■iiii 
 

FOOD FISHES OF THE OREGON COAST. 
 
 Is it any wondei' that these individuals of the same species receive differ- 
 ent common names '? I give collector's description of color and his notes in 
 detail to illustrate the misconceptions arising from these striking- variations. 
 
 Five specimens, Nos. 3, 11, 12, 13, 1"). 
 
 Nos. 11 and 12. March 24. — Sea trout. Pins, pale yellowish brown: ven- 
 tral surface, white ; sides and dorsal surface, slate thickly spotted with color 
 of fins. Stomach contents (No. 12), large Crustacea. 
 
 No. 3. "Kelp fish. Color, dark umber mottled with light green: ventral 
 surface, pale yellow ; fins, slate gray. 
 
 No. 13. "Kelp fish. March 24. Pale brown clouded .with black on head: 
 fore part of body blotched with peacock blue. Each blotch with several 
 black dots ; fins, black. 
 
 No. 15. ''Medicine fish."' March 24. Dark brown on dorsal surface fad- 
 ing into terra cotta, everywhere blotched with gray : folds under jaw bril- 
 liant bluish o-reen. 
 
 LANT, LAUNCE. SAND EEL. 
 
 ( A inmodytoi perHonat lis — Gikard.) 
 
 It is not an unusual thing for summer visitors at the seashore to find that 
 the receding tide has left the beach strewn with little cylindrical fish about 
 four inches long, of a clear translucent green color with silvery sides, a 
 sharp snout, with underjaw projecting, and a forked tail. This is the Sand 
 Launce, not only attractive from its coloration, from an aesthetic point of 
 view, but also a most excellent pan fish. They burrow in the sand to escape 
 their numerous enemies, and are frequently found in this position where the 
 tide has left them, their heads only showing above the surface. If the 
 morning sti*oller on the beach is wise he will gather all of these he can, and 
 with an admiring glance possibly at a school darting about in some im- 
 prisoning beach pool, he will hurry home and give directions for their cook- 
 ing. Cleaning these little fish is soon over with. Hold one by the nape 
 with thumb and forefinger of left hand ; then with scissors, or with fingers 
 of other hand, dexterously remove the head, and at the same time the at- 
 tached entrails. Wash the fish, dry, flour, and fry in pan with about fifty 
 of his fellows, and the next morning will find all the members of the family 
 on the beach hunting for Launce. Abundant on sandy shores of Atlantic 
 and Pacific coasts. See Fig. 4. 
 
 BROWN ROCK FISH. 
 
 (Sebastodes auriculatus — Girard.) 
 
 One specimen received. Collector's No. 2. — "August 2. Color, mottled, 
 orange, yellow, with reddish cast on dark umber ground. Ventral surface 
 lightest. Lower lip yellow. Stomach contents, fragments of fish. ' ' Length, 
 
8 FOOD FISHES OF THE OREGON COAST. 
 
 seven inches. Given as very abundant from Cape Mendicino to Cerros Is- 
 land. See lower lig-ure i'late I ; from a photograph of a specimen preserved 
 in formalin. 
 
 YELLOW-TAILED ROCK FISH. 
 (Sebastodes JU(vidui>—A\iiR».) 
 
 A strong, heavy fish, the so-called ''Black Sea Bass'' of our Oregon Coast. 
 Olive green or blaekish. Twenty-four inches long. Mouth large, strong; 
 lower jaw projecting. Dorsal fin continuous, but indented; spines of fin 
 slender. Two specimens. Collector's Nos. IT and 22. "Black Sea Bass. 
 Ventral surface, dirty white; dorsal black; stomach empty.'' See Fig. 5. 
 
 BLUE PERCH, STRIPED SURF FISH, SQUAW FISH. 
 
 {TaenUoca lateralis — Agassiz.) 
 {Ditrema ktteraie— Gunther.) 
 
 This species and its relative, Damalidithys argyromnms, the White Perch 
 or Porgee are almost too common on our shore to need description. They 
 are both members of a viviparous family, the Embiotocoidte or surf fishes. 
 In the summer season when they are carrying their young their flesh is poor 
 and tasteless, though they readily take the hook and specimens all the way 
 from one pound to six pounds are caught oft' the rocks, the tyro fisherman 
 being sometimes astonished to see young fish, two inches long, slipping from 
 the parent and flopping on the rocks beside him, quite capable of swimming 
 if placed in water. This family is so interesting, that I quote from Jordan 
 and Evermann as follows: ''Viviparous. The young are hatched within the 
 body, where they remain closely packed in a sack-like enlargement of the 
 oviduct analogous to the uterus' until born. These foetal fishes bear at first 
 little resemblance to the parent, being closely compressed and having the 
 vertical fins exceedingly elevated. At birth they are from one and a half 
 to two and a half inches in length and similar to the adult in appearance, 
 but more compressed, and red in color. Since the announcement of their 
 viviparous nature by Prof. Louis Aguisiz in 1853 and by Dr. William P. 
 Gibbon in 1854 these fishes have been objects of special interest to zoologists. 
 Fishes of the Pacific Coast of North America inhabiting bays and the surf 
 on sandy beaches. One species {IlystemcamiJHs trasl-i) inhabits fresh water: 
 three others {Ditrema temmincki, I),smittii, and Xcoditrema rausonetti) are 
 found in Japan. These species reach a length of fi'om six to eighteen inches 
 and are very abundant where found. * * * Most of them feed on Crus- 
 tacea, but one genus (Aheona) is partly or wholly herbivrous. Genera 17: 
 species about 20." 
 
 The pavement-like teeth, above and below, in the back part of the mouth 
 (phai'yngeal teeth, used for crushing hard substances), are extremely inter- 
 esting and well worth examination on the part of the fisherman interested 
 
FIG. 5.— BLACK ROCKFISH, to illustiatc tlie group. 
 
 FKi. (i.— THK WHITE PERCH. 
 
FOOD FISHES OF THE OREGON COAST. 
 
 in biolog-ical phenomena. One specimen, Collector's No. 20. "Squaw fish. 
 Head golden yellow, spotted irreg-ularly with brilliant blue ; entire body 
 striped long-itudinally with alternate golden yellow and brilliant blue. A 
 distinct- black median stripe from upper corner of gill opening to base of 
 tail. Stomach contains small Jell II ,fisJt." See Fig. (1 
 
 SCULPIN, BULL HEAD. 
 ( Enophrys 6i*-on— Girard.) 
 
 A type of a large and variable family known as Cottidip, the Sculpins. 
 There are about sixty genera in this group and over two hundred species, a 
 few of which are found in fresh water. Of the salt water forms most of the 
 species are shore fish, but some descend to great depths. No extended de- 
 scription of the Sculpin is necessary, for any fisherman catching one for the 
 first time, would feel instinctively, as he landed his bony prize (?) and sur- 
 veyed it bristling with horns, its head flat and wide, its mouth gaping, and 
 its generally repulsive appearance, that he had caught "a sculpin." 
 
 The species under discussion is very common from San Francisco to Sitka. 
 Not used for food. One specimen received, Collector's No. L "August 1. 
 1898, Bull Head, or Sculpin. Color dark umber, irregularly mottled with 
 light lemon yellow. Stomach packed full of young kelp weed." 
 
 SAND FISH. 
 
 ( Trichodon tricJtodon—TUjESiUS.) 
 
 One specimen sent by Mr. Toner, Yaquina City, the only one observed by 
 the writer. A striking fish, about eight inches long, of a general silvery 
 color; brownish above: a brown streak on side, broken toward the head. 
 Peculiar mottlings between head and first dorsal fin, and irregular brown 
 markings on back at base of fins. Dark line below or at lower edge of eye. 
 Habitat, North Pacific, on sandy shores, from Monterey to Behring Sea. 
 burying itself in sand. 
 
 Comparison of the straight line, shown with some figures, with the picture 
 of the fish, enable one to estimate the length of the species in inches. 
 
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 "By 
 
 PI. ATI': I. 
 
OCT 25 1900 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 002 824 408 3 ^