John,

        For years (25?), the following dichotomous key has been used to
identify the
        400+ species of marine fishes found along California (and likely
quite a ways
        northward as well).  For around $10.00, I don't think it can be
beat!!
        I'm sure its still available through the California Department
of Fish &
        Game, and I know that a recent reprinting is available through
the
        California State University Long Beach's Bookstore (I saw it
sitting
        there a couple of weeks ago while back for a vacation).

        Miller, D.J. and R.N. Lea. 1972. Guide to the coastal marine
        fishes of California. California Department of Fish and Game.
Fish
        Bulletin 157. 249pp.


        Michael D. Noah, Ecologist
        U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Japan District
        Box 81  (CEPOJ-PP-E)
        APO AP   96338-5010

        011-81-311-763-5065
        011-81-311-763-8869 FAX

        [log in to unmask]


                -----Original Message-----
                From:   John Wullschleger
[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
                Sent:   Friday, August 22, 1997 9:41 PM
                To:     [log in to unmask]
                Subject:        Pacific Coast Fishes

                     Would anyone care to recommend current references
on marine
        fishes of
                     the Pacific Coast of North America.  A key would be
great,
        but
                     photos/drawings, characteristics, distribution, and
life
        history
                     information are of interest as well.  I am
particularly
        interested in
                     fish that inhabit the near-short and intertidal
regions.
        Thanks in
                     advance.

                     John Wullschleger
                     Fish/Intertidal Biologist
                     Olympic National Park
                     Forks, WA