The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-28
THE SEA RAVEN.

water outside the straits and cape. II Is
known among fishermen as the Sally
Growlsr and In the early year comes into
the bays and iniets OF the Sound TO spawn,
returning for season In the fall. 1t Is very
ugiy. and In known 10 some anglers as
the rock ;oadash. 1t Is a cold water fish.
freauenting the rocky bottom fifteen or
twenty fathoms down. and Is so formed
that when lying on rocks overgrown by
seaweed and kelp 1: Is almost indiscernihle
The sea raven does very Little hunting for
food, but takes what comes in It's way.
small crsIstacea and small fish. II Is a
slow swimmer and very sluggish In move
mens- 1t psowls around on the bottom,
snd IL might not move oaS af space a
hundred feet square IL IL got enough 20
eat within It. The only thing that would
make IL move would be scarcity Of food.
TIE sea raven Is altogether bottom
feeding fish. and IL rarely leaves the bot
tom. IL would make one grab al a fish Il
sought for prey. but Ii the fish should get
away the sea raven would not pursue IL.
But IL is pretty sure to get what comes
its way. II may be that il lies on the
bottom covered with a coating of mud.
and so practically hidden from view. An
reach. and the sea raven let's IL 20 by
without an effort TO catch II, but let the
killio come just little nearer TO the hid
den sea ravens nose, and It's wide mouth
opens and away sod the klllle.
Ugly as the sea raven is. II IL yet a
good fish 10 eat. though il is seldom eaten
except by regular fishermen When a sea
raven comes to wholesale fish dealer IL
Is not sold for food. but Is given to a re-
tail dealer. who displays ii as a marine
curiosity. II is so with all fish OF repuls-
I've appearance. but the commercial fish
arnsn tries everything that comes along.
and he has discovered that the sea raven
n very good to eat. In all fishing iocaii-
ties where men follow fishing for living
the sea raven. Ia the spring and autumn.
Is considered delicaey. Sea ravens are
caught in the spring in nets. The fisher
man chops OF The sea ravens head With
n hstchet and skins the FISH. The sea
raven has flavor Of its oeA; It's flesh Is
Of creamy tinge. and tender and flaky.
There are SOME sea ravens brisS :: :. IN
color. and rather large number of a
bright orange hue. but the most common
variety is chocolate eoto1ed
The sea ravens eyes are beautiful Like
many other sea fishes eyes. they have
around them what appears TO. be a very
narrow gold rim. II IS as though the eyes
were set IN gold sockets. which were all
covered By the siesh and skin except just
around the rim or edge OF the opening
where the eye appears. In sea rayeas'
eyes the gold edge ia as bright as though
II had been hilTTlsaed. The eye Is green.
shot With irregular. shaded. chanSeable
bars OF ysilca. The eye sockets projec,
from The head ike little dormsr windows
IN tire skull. tie eyes are like gems in
gold settings There are Two little horns
projecting from the head. enc on either
side Hanging Tram the under Jaw are a
number Of curious ittle STAR SHAPED az
tAeAmenis. called eaShels. which lock as
thoash they might have been cut eat with
a n.nking iron.
Tho seulpin Is another ngly fish, though
rot SO psts as me sea raven. and, ike tae
saa raven. "a hss rs COED points, and Il
may upep acquaintance 50 hnprcve Ia the
mind of TIE observer as 20 almost !ose rs
nglnesS. In the fall she seulpia oomes IN
from deeper waters Ia great numbers sna
stays through the Water. and then goes
back 10 deeper water again. II Is CON.