Ventrals four-fifths the height of pectorals, arising immediately behind them; their width one-third of their length.
D. VII, 23-2, C 3-1-6-6-1-3, A I-2-21-2, P 6-1-11, V, I-1-1-3. Scales 175, 13/32-10/10.
Colors.—Pale silvery brown, white below; an obscure row of brown spots and mottlings on sides; fins and tail olive near base; iris dark brown and gilt.
Remarks.—This fish seems to be a very aberrant form of the Percoid family, having many of the characters of other orders. Its general form and dentition are those of some Sciaenoids, while its entire dorsal, opercular armature and only five branchiostegals separate it both from them and the Percoids. The very long anal is another character found in few if any members of these families. I can find nothing in the pharyngeal bones to indicate its affinities, these being closely like those of both the above families as shown in Seriphus politus and Paralabrax clathratus, which on comparison have them almost exactly similar.
The genus Heterognathodon, of Bleeker, has several of the most peculiar characters of this one; but not having a full description of it, I cannot compare them. There are generic differences at least, and the habitat is widely different, being the East Indies. Richardson places it with other aberrant genera in the family Theraponidae—(Datninae, of Swainson,) which is probably a mixture of several.
The outline figure represents the fish one-third the natural size; 22 inches.
This fish is caught rather plentifully in autumn at Catalina Island, where I obtained the one here described, in October, 1861. During my late visit there, in June and July, none would bite, and I have not yet obtained any duplicates. It is called by the very vague name of “White-fish.”
The figure being made from a skin may be a little inaccurate in proportions; but I hope to be able to present a better one in the Report of the Geological Survey.
This white-fish is not remarkable for excellence as food.