Book Description
When the first edition of Inland Fishes of California was published in 1976, it was a benchmark reference. Since that time, our knowledge of California's freshwater fishes has dramatically increased. This completely revised edition incorporates a vast amount of new information and creates a fresh synthesis of the historical data. Written by the leading expert on California's freshwater fishes and illustrated with beautiful line drawings, this compendium is the single best source for understanding and identifying the state's freshwater fishes. It is an essential resource for anyone who needs to have accurate and detailed information on California's fishes at their fingertips.
Since the 1870s, the state's native fishes have been joined by thirty-four alien species, which now dominate many bodies of water. This book treats both native and introduced species, first in a key for identification, and then in individual species accounts covering characteristics, taxonomy, names, distribution, and life history. Each account includes the author's personal assessment of how well the species is doing and problems associated with its management. Most of the native fishes are found only in California and show many wonderful adaptations for living in the state's diverse waters. Unfortunately, many are also in danger of extinction.
The message underlying the first edition of this book was that we knew astonishingly little about many of California's inland fishes. Although our knowledge is increasing, full accounts of some native fishes may not be complete before they become extinct. Preventing the loss of native fishes is the major goal of this book, and Moyle makes important suggestions for conservation strategies as well as presenting up-to-date information on ecology, life history, and distribution. With this knowledge, preserving our native fishes becomes possible even in the face of the state's growing economy and population.
Book Description
This popular book is the only field guide to all of California's 130 freshwater fish species, both native and introduced. Revised and updated throughout, the guide now features the only complete collection of color illustrations of California freshwater fishes available anywhere. These color illustrations, coupled with a set of highly detailed black-and-white drawings, provide a quick and easy method for identifying fish in the field. Detailed natural history accounts for each species give a wealth of information, including the current endangered or threatened status of many native species.
* Includes angling tips for each sport fish species
* Features an expanded section on cooking freshwater fish
Customer Reviews:
Well, It's ALMOST Perfect........2007-02-23
It still gets five stars for content, good writing, amazingly extensive data, and imaginative inclusions, of which the one on keeping wild fish in home ponds and aquaria is the most surprising and the one on preparing and cooking the creatures is the most splendid.
Just to be done with it, the "almost" refers to some features of layout and form, which are irritating. They are not so bad as to make me want to throw it at a passing raccoon, but they do exercise some of my less formal vocabulary.
As a wildlife rehabilitator, I depend on field guides a lot, and good ones are not as common as we all wish. This one is a dandy, and I am truly glad for it and recommend it to anyone interested in western states fishes, not just those of California.
As a serious cook, I am downright thrilled with the culinary section, which is flatly the best fish cookbook I have ever seen since the immortal Rombauer's JOY OF COOKING, the only other book I know which deals with ALL the details of preparation.
CA Dept. of Fish & Shame .......2006-12-16
This superb, comprehensive field guide covers not just the extant freshwater fish of California, but details how to catch them, how to cook them, and even how to keep them in the aquarium or pond at home. Superb photographs, and detailed descriptions of each species.
It is truly a travesty though that many of the alien fish in the state that have caused such devastation to native species have been deliberately introduced by the governmental agency responsible for the stewardship of California's freshwater ecosystems. Reading of the California Department of Fish & Game's persistent and ongoing mismanagement is alarming, and a clear indication that the citizens of the state deserve that the bunglers in charge of that office be bought to task and replaced by competent people.
Excellent Resource.......2006-12-11
Once again, Dr. McGinnis has done it! We own the first edition and now the newly revised edition. This is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to know more about the physiology of the fish species in California. The pictures and illustrations are a handy guide for identification. There is also a wonderful section on fish preparation with some great recipes. If you want to expand your Freshwater Fish knowledge, BUY THIS BOOK!
Freshwater Fish.......2006-10-13
This book is an extensive compilation of every thinkable freshwater fish in the Golden State. Anyone who might be curious to know about California's numerous freshwater dwellers. Also, McGinnis' son, Ross, is a succesful music instructor at Los Gatos High School, California.
Book Description
& 8-page color section & 23 b/w photos & 5 maps & 8 x 11. A comprehensive guide to Yellowstone fish and their habitat & Full-color plates of all species in the park & Historic black and white photos & Appendix with hundreds of lakes and streams Praise for the first edition of Yellowstone Fishes ". . . the best reference to date for anglers plying the waters of this popular and much-visited park."--Sports Afield This richly illustrated, thoroughly researched book covers all the species of fish and every aspect of their existence in one of the most famous sport fisheries in the world. First published in 1983 as Freshwater Wilderness, it was hailed as one of the finest works ever done on the National Parks, and appealed to anglers, naturalists, and lovers of fine nature writing. This edition includes much new material, including the impact on fish of the 1988 forest fires and the introduction of non-native species; an expanded chapter on angling; updated taxonomy; and an assessment of recent management policies. It also provides an overview of the entire Yellowstone watershed, from backcountry streams to the major rivers and lakes. Watercolors of fish species by Michael Simon. John D. Varley, a fisheries biologist, is former chief of research for Yellowstone Park and current director of the Yellowstone Center for Resources. Paul Schullery, a former Yellowstone Park ranger and executive director of the American Museum of Fly Fishing (1977-1982), is senior editor at the Yellowstone Center for Resources. He has published widely on fly fishing, including Stackpole's Shupton's Fancy. "Though the average angler has little reason to notice any changes yet, and though today's fishing is if anything better than it was in 1983, a variety of threats to the integrity of these extraordinary resources have emerged since we wrote the first edition of this book."-- from the introduction to Yellowstone Fishes
Average customer rating:
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Fish species of special concern of California
Peter B Moyle
Manufacturer: California Dept. of Fish and Game
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
 Endangered Species
| Conservation
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Ichthyology
| Zoology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: B000723DLY |
Average customer rating:
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Freshwater fish and fishing in native North America (University of California publications in geography)
Erhard Rostlund
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
General
| Native American
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Fish & Sharks
| Animals
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Fisheries & Aquaculture
| Natural Resources
| Nature & Ecology
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Geography
| Earth Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Hunting & Fishing
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
| Fishing
| General & Anthologies
| Hunting
| Shooting
ASIN: B0007DNJEE |
Average customer rating:
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A Guide to California's Freshwater Fishes
Bob Madgic
Manufacturer: Naturegraph Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Fish & Sharks
| Animals
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Ichthyology
| Zoology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Fish
| Field Guides
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Reference
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0879612541 |
Book Description
This guidebook, enhanced by William Crary's 66 species paintings, will assist in identifying and learning about the fish species that inhabit California's waters. Also habitat photos, maps and diagrams
Average customer rating:
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Trout of California
J. H Wales
Manufacturer: Dept. of Fish and Game
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Pamphlet
ASIN: B0007FOG5I |
Book Description
This digital document is a journal article from Biological Conservation, published by Elsevier in . The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Description:
Human development of freshwater ecosystems has lead to drastic changes in freshwater fish faunas, including the loss of many native species and the gain of non-natives. Typically conservation ecologists view these two opposing forces as contributing to biological homogenization, and consider homogenization as one of the principle negative consequences of urbanization. However, homogenization is only one outcome out of many that can result from the loss and gain of species. In particular, it is possible for invasions and extinctions to lead to differentiation; a process whereby two (or more) regions become less similar to one another through time. Using the freshwater fishes of California, we show that urbanization is highly positively correlated to both the endangerment of native fish and the invasion of non-native fish within watersheds. Despite this, the fish faunas of California's watersheds have differentiated from one another through time. Furthermore, the degree of differentiation is positively correlated with measures of urbanization, which is contrary to expectation. We suggest that this result reflects: (1) the haphazard manner in which non-native fishes have been introduced into California watersheds, (2) the difficulty that both native and non-native fishes have in expanding their geographical ranges, and (3) the continued presence of vestiges of formerly distinct regional faunas. This pattern of differentiation among watersheds is likely a matter of scale, as previous work on freshwater fishes has demonstrated homogenization at both larger and smaller spatial scales. In addition the observed pattern is probably a short-term (temporal) phenomena and will disappear with continued invasion and extinction. We suggest that similar patterns may occur for other taxa that have limited natural dispersal abilities and that are idiosyncratically released as non-natives via human activities (e.g. herptiles).
Book Description
A fundamental Taoist practice for enhancing and utilizing chi
• Includes breathing and movement exercises to promote vitality and healing through the cultivation of chi in the tan tien and perineum areas
• Presents the foundational exercises that are essential for more advanced practices such as Iron Shirt Chi Kung and Cosmic Healing
Tan Tien Chi Kung is the art of cultivating and condensing chi in the lower abdomen--the tan tien--the fundamental power storehouse of the body. Known as the Ocean of Chi to the ancient Taoists, this lower abdominal area holds the key to opening the body and the mind for the free and continuous movement of chi. Tan Tien Chi Kung contains specific breathing and movement exercises that develop the power of the chi stored in the body to increase vitality, strengthen organs, and promote self-healing. Mantak Chia explains how these exercises also provide a safe and effective method for receiving earth energy, which allows the practitioner to achieve balance physically, mentally, and spiritually--all of which are essential for the more advanced practices of Iron Shirt Chi Kung and Cosmic Healing.
It is our mind that directs and guides our chi, but if the mind and body are out of balance or under stress, the mind cannot perform this function. The tan tien actually contains a large quantity of neurotransmitters, making it a key source of body intelligence. It is for this reason the Taoists also referred to Tan Tien Chi Kung as Second Brain Chi Kung and created exercises that would allow practitioners to gain awareness of the tan tien’s function to restore the mind-body balance that is essential for spiritual growth and optimal well-being.
Customer Reviews:
It's about selling more books, not passing on knowledge!.......2007-08-17
As a 35-yr. Tai-Chi pratitioner/instructor (alumni of Robert W. Smith and Sifu Willy Lin's schools) and martial artist competitor/instructor (Jiu-Jitsu & Krav-Maga), I found Mr. Chia's, "The Inner Structure of Tai Chi: Mastering the Classic Forms of Tai Chi Chi Kung", very detailed and profound. However, since acquiring fame and fortune from his Iron Shirt Chi Kung book and tapes, Mr. Chia seems to crank out one or two books a year, which only scratch on the surface of what could be valuable knowledge. His now ever-present disclaimer that, "in order to benefit from the teaching in his publications, one should be training with a Mantak Chia certified instructor and/or buy more of his books" should raise a cautionary flag to the serious inner essential energy seeker. Having attended one of his weekend workshops last year in Teresopolis, Brazil, I can attest to the fact that, while his multi-media slide show presentation was interesting (albeit, a bit long and winded!), the Tai-Chi portion of his clinic was so sad, it was laughable... to put it mildly! This book is a re-hash of familiar concepts packaged within a new cover and not worth the money. If the reader would like to get more technical about the nurturing and expansion of his chi force, I would recomend checking out "The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong and Tai Chi" by Roger Jahnke!
Misleading.......2007-02-07
I bought this book and one other by the same author expecting to get some useful information. Both books however begin with an introduction that none of the material in the books should be used unless you are already being trained by a qualified Tan Tien Chi Kung teacher. If I was already under instruction, I wouldn't need the books, yes? The introduction further states you must buy more of the books as these two books build on exercises in these other books. None of this was mentioned in the book reviews on Amazon.
Book Description
Ling Kong Jing, the "Empty Force," is the highest martial arts skill in China. This extraordinary technique harnesses the power of chi, the body's vital energy, enabling masters of the art to defend themselves against opponents without making physical contact. The book takes readers step by step from theory to the actual practice used to generate Empty Force, and shows how to use its remarkable power for healing as well as self-defense.
Customer Reviews:
worth the money.......2007-08-09
If you would like to put some effort into aquiring skills this is a good place to start learning . Excelent book and infomation.
Sadly dissapointed.......2007-08-03
I was very intrigued by this book at first because I study Aikido. But on page 45 the author writes "Not everyone will be bounced off the wall like a ball or thrown up to the ceiling. Those sensitive to chi will have that sort of reaction, but people without this sensitivity will move only a little, or not at all (but will actually be hurt more than the ones who are thrown around). If the master can't make the target move, then observers will say the master is a liar and the empty force is fake."
Hello?! This book's subtitle is "The power of chi for SELF-DEFENSE and energy healing." So if I read the quote above well, this technique only works in a closed setting with people who know they are supposed to fall or fly. If I am walking down the street and a group of thugs attacks me (I assume that thugs are not usually well-tuned to chi forces), then this technique will not work and they may still get to me, even if they may get hurt by the force. So VERY early on the book let me know that I was wasting my time.
But I decided to give the book a second chance. I skipped the anecdotal evidence chapters and took a closer look at the exercises in case they had something to offer. The techniques are poorly explained, and I have no idea how to practice anything using this book. I do not recommend it to anyone interested in working with energy and/or martial arts. But if you are looking for something amusing to read and you are willing to put up with the bad writing, this may be up your alley.
A book I am currently reading about energy and martial arts that I am enjoying a lot and has practical exercises is Intuitive Body: Aikido as a Clairsentient Practice. It does not offer anything closely related to what Empty Force promises, but it is helping me to understand martial arts from a different perspective and helping me to better embody energy and be more conscious of it. Hope it helps you too.
A diferent focus.......2007-07-12
This book talks about an interesting idea that focuses on the combative aplication of Qi, stressing instantanious damage.
The Empy Force reads like a poorly written technal paperthat uses speculation as evedence and "ancient chinese legends" as irevocable proof. Perhaps its the lack of said 'legends' in the american culture that has left me pesamesticly speculative.
That being said: Some of the things described are amazingly simmilar to what I have found myself doing in zen meditation. Also I intend to incorperate some of the other techniques into my meditations and movement. I suspect that this book holds knowledge for those more famaliar with the chinese form of thinking (or expression) than I am. It has been my experiance studying Traditional Chinese Medicine (here in the states) that the chinese love medafors and wont say what they meen. I belive the reason for this is because the journy of discovery yields the best results.
Read wider before you review!.......2006-10-19
The negativity of the previous reviews had me curious rather than deterred! I therefore ordered the book - and do not regret doing so. Having developed an intense interest in consciousness and energetics (through reading numerous books from both Eastern and Western points of view) I find that "Empty force" adds ably to the discussion (and even seeks it.) I suspect that reviewers' expectations of this book are only as limited as their reading on the subject.
I couldn't help but see significant parallels between the philosophy of "chi" in this book and the "non-locality" of mind referred to in the prestigious "Studies in Consciousness" - that of William Braud PhD in particular. Scientifically correct to the point of dryness, Braud's "Distant Mental Influence" details meticulous research (with copious statistics and references) on the effect of thought at a distance on REG machines (Random Event Generators) He includes other double-blind laboratory studies into the power of non-local mind. (Non-local being defined as mentally mediated events occurring outside the brain.) Top universities are involved in this research worldwide and are replicating these staggering results, led by a veritable 'Who's Who' of international scientists.
I also see a close parity between the "chi" of "Empty Force" and the documented cures of "Quantum Healing" (see website as well as book) and the rapidly accumulating evidence of energy tapping (EFT being the most widely known through worldwide reporting on its website) with an increasing number of medical abstracts. If this is "snake oil" territory, then hundreds of eminent doctors and psychologists world-wide are partaking of it, with endorsement from medical journals. Can such a historically conservative body have suddenly become so gullible?
Refuse to believe it until you see it? There is the confirming infra-red imagery from Japanese scientists ... I could go on ad infinitum. Another reviewer is confusing experiential certainty with arrogance. I would advise caution only to those who are unfamiliar with Asian philosophy: The vocabulary as well as the metaphor is alien to Western thinking. However, we would do well to remember the five blind men arguing over the same elephant, defining it only by the different part they touched.
While I don't anticipate becoming a "master" at it, I have already exercised this skill to a very limited degree. And from what I have seen demonstrated, even skeptics could make use of the concept in some small way. Down the track, the West may well claim this wisdom as ours, as we often do, when cultures we have arrogantly deemed "primitive" have used it for centuries. Incidentally, for a Western account, B K Franztis, martial arts expert, international lecturer and author, has focused one of his books on his own experience with "empty force." It is titled "The Power of Internal Martial Arts." Frantzis is even more assertive about his claims.
BIG lesson here: Don't condemn this book out of ignorance, especially before investigating a skill that even our Ivory Halls now validate.
The Snake-Oil Meter is Sending Out Warning Signals.......2006-09-05
I wanted to give this book an honest chance, really I did. But in this case "honest" meant "Take it back to the bookstore. This one's no good." It doesn't deserve the lowest rating. There is actually some decent historical material. But it's darned close.
Mostly, this book is predictable. There are plenty of testimonials from True Believers. There's the usual trashing of evil materialistic impatient Westerners who lack the refined sensibilities of the Middle Kingdom. There's a fair bit The Emperor's New Clothes; if it doesn't work on you it's obviously because you aren't sufficiently perceptive. It's all shades of Dillman's no-touch knockout. When a skeptical physicist just stood there, uninjured and fully conscious, it had to be because the researcher was crossing his toes and thereby blocking his chi flow.
The most insulting part of this tract is the chapter titled "The Great Debate". The Great Debate, of course, is "Does this stuff actually work." As any reader of Skeptic or The Skeptical Inquirer or even fans of Penn and Teller's B******t! can tell you the answer is slippery. There's proof, but we don't have anything to prove. There's proof, but only our paying students are worthy of it. Or, closely related, you will believe when you've invested three to five hours a day for several years practicing and having faith in it. There's proof, but all the incidents happened long ago and far away once upon a time in China. There's proof, but you're a crass unenlightened boor for doubting us, and you have no sensitivity to chi. There's proof, but you could get severely injured so out of compassion we can't show you.
In short, these guys aren't going to be walking away with a million bucks from The Randi Challenge any time soon. Don't waste your time on fraud and self-delusion.
Customer Reviews:
The Direct Approach To Martial Power.......2005-09-17
Paul Dong's book is very well written and covers all aspects of this fascinating art, in fact I was impressed enough with it to contact Sifu Richard Mooney and order the tape from him directly as I'm a little doubtful about learning from a book.
Lin Kong Jing can be used for personal healing, healing others, AND martial arts depending on how much time and effort the practitioner puts into the practice. From what I've read the benefits are quite profound. The one thing that might put many people off is that it DOES take time to develop this ability so one shouldn't expect too much too soon. To the reviewer who asked why someone would want to practice this for 2 or more hours a day just to make someone sway after 5 years of practice, I must add: the joy is in the practice itself, not the results.
Emptyforce more than just for self defence.......2001-09-29
Less than a hundred years ago the definative skeptics were claiming that it was scientifically impossible for a machine to fly. Today the definative skeptics are attempting to discredit this amazing human ability by designing bad experiments. But anyone who has spend time with Paul Dong would have personality experience this ability, to project this force and move people without physically touching them. If you were to get closer, about an inch, to Paul Dong you can experience first hand a very strong force.
While it may yet take another hundreds years for western science to ascertain this force, I believe that in the streets and in competitive sports, it will become dominant.
I believe that this book is an excellent resource and perhaps a testimony to what a type of exercise that may well change the face of sports and science.
The scientist in me rebels.......2001-01-01
Okay, I'm not a scientist, but I am a firm believer in the scientific method, and while I don't think science has all the answers...I don't buy this book completely, either. So I ran it by my psychology professor and a few others.
They said the book made sense on one level. I don't claim to be an expert, but it seems to me to be essentially meditation. If somebody, especially somebody untrained in the martial arts, is trying to attack you and you remain dead calm, it's probably pretty scary.
We also have to factor in the psychosomatic effects. I'll bet anything that 40% consists of martial artists, and 60% the untrained, or at least those who don't believe in ch'i (I do, by the way.) The control of the mind over the human body is nothing short of stunning. Ask to see the feet of a real firewalker if you don't believe me. There are some who believe that pain and injury are nothing more than the effects of the mind, and that if we didn't think "knives cut", we wouldn't get cut.
Do I doubt people are effected by this art? No. What I doubt is the cause. I honestly don't think our nervous electricity can jump from person to person, except in extreme situations like death or sexual contact. I think what we've got here is the power of belief, not the power of ch'i.
Excellent Book.......2000-11-01
I believe this is an excellent book on the subject of Empty Force. I don't really believe that I would advise a beginner of the internal arts to try and learn from this book. I would advise them to try a more simple book on chi kung or tai chi just to get started. I wanted a more advanced book and with (Empty Force : The Ultimate Martial Art: The Power of Chi for Self-Defense and Energy Healing) that's exactly what I got.
Best of the BEST.......2000-04-21
This book is easy to understand telling of stories of other martial artists. The diagrams are easy to follow and the techniques.
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