These little blue creatures are called ` ` by - the - sea sailors '' ; the scientific name is Velella ##cea . The small - sized fish have a clear , distinctive fin sticking up from a blue , oval body . `` And you know the winds change , and all of a sudden they wash up on shore They first started showing up in California and Oregon . They are now being found on beaches north of Los Angeles .
These little blue creatures are called ` ` by - the - sea sailors '' ; the scientific name is Velella ##cea . The small - sized fish have a clear , distinctive fin sticking up from a blue , oval body . They first started showing up in California and Oregon . They are now being found on beaches north of Los Angeles .