tinue to grow the reduction in percentage of body length is great, 

 from 16 per cent (at 766 mm body length) to 5.1 per cent (at 

 1868 mm body length). The corresponding proportional reduc- 

 tion, though slight, in anterior height of the spinous dorsal, 

 coupled with increasing depth at the origin of the spinous dor- 

 sal, means that in the 1000- to 1500-mm range the fin is higher 

 than the corresponding depth, whereas the reverse is true in the 

 larger specimens. 



To show the overall height of the spinous dorsal fin, additional 

 measurements were made in two instances. Med-22: spine 14 (97 

 mm), 20 (107), 25 (122), 30 (108), 35 (102). Med-26: spine 10 

 (99), 16 (107), 20 (122), 25 (117, slightly broken), 30 (26), 35 (81). 



The first anal fin is low, its anterior height less than the dis- 

 tance from its base to the anus (in one specimen the two dis- 

 tances are equal). Proportionally, the first anal fin varies from 

 7.2 to 9.3 per cent of body length with no allometry in the size 

 series studied. 



A characteristic feature of T. belone is its short pectoral fin. It 

 varies somewhat in length and in shape (see Figs. 4-5) but is 

 always quite short (10-13 per cent of body length) and has the 

 upper (or anterior) edge curved, the lower (or posterior) edge 

 nearly straight. The arch of the lateral line ends between the 

 mid-point and the tip of the pectoral fin. 



The body is not banded (if bands are present they must not be 

 prominent), but fresh material was not seen by the authors. 

 Body color varied from dark slate above to dull whitish or grey 

 below. The dorsal fin was unspotted in all specimens. While it 

 may be argued that spots may fade, we always found spots in 

 that portion of the dorsal fin below the edge of the groove in the 

 dorsum in each species as white marlin and sailfish, even in very 

 poorly treated specimens. Also, Col. Howard saw some 

 specimens within a few hours of their capture, and noted that 

 none had bands on the body or spots on the spinous dorsal fin. 

 An unspotted dorsal characterizes T. belone as it does pfluegeri 

 and probably angustirostris. 



The flesh is pale in belone except for the tissue under the 

 lateral line. The importance of this feature in istiophorid tax- 

 onomy is uncertain for it may reflect nothing more than feeding 

 habits. 



The gas bladder was examined in most specimens and its 

 chambers were arranged in two rows, one layer deep, extending 

 back to the level of the second anal fin. The species has a large 

 pineal window nearly the size of a half dollar. 



One juvenile (UMML 11056, Med-36) 766 mm in body length 

 is available to us. Morphometric data are not included in Figure 

 3 but are available in the tables. At this size it has the 

 characteristic features of the larger specimens. 



Material examined: 



Spec. Med-2: 1,340 mm body length, weight 25.1 

 pounds (11.4 kg), male. Zona Scaletta, south of 

 Messina, Aug. 7, 1961 (pectoral girdle, UMML 

 11074). 



Spec. Med-3: 1,290 mm, 26.4 pounds (12.0 kg), 

 male, Torre Faro, Aug. -Sept. 1961. 



Spec. Med-4: 1,545 mm, 40.7 pounds (18.5 kg), 

 male, off Sicily, Aug.-Sept. 1961. 



Spec. Med-5: 1,670 mm, 50.6 pounds (23.0 kg), 

 male, Strait of Messina, Aug. 7, 1961. 



Spec. Med-6: 1,730 mm, 51.7 pounds (23.5 kg), 

 male, Strait of Messina, Aug.-Sept. 1961. 



Spec. Med-7: 1,680 mm, 59.4 pounds (26.9 kg), 

 male, Strait of Messina, Aug.-Sept. 1961. 



Spec. Med-8: 1,430 mm, 24.2 pounds (11.0 kg), 

 male, off coast of Messina, south side, Aug. 8, 1961. 



Spec. Med-9: 1,500 mm, 29.5 pounds (13.4 kg), 

 male(?), Scaletta, Aug. 1961. 



Spec. Med-10: 1,522 mm, 28.5 pounds (12.9 kg), 

 male, Tropea, Aug. 9, 1961. 



Spec. Med-11: 1,715 mm, 46.2 pounds (21.0 kg), sex 

 unknown, Strait of Messina, Aug. 7, 1961 (piece of 

 skin, UMML 11075). 



Spec. Med-12: 1,745 mm, 57.2 pounds (26.0 kg), 

 male, coast of Calabria, region of Calabria, Aug. 7, 

 1961. 



Spec. Med-13: 1,855 mm, 60.5 pounds (27.4 kg), 

 female, Strait of Messina, Aug. 17, 1961. 



Spec. Med-14: 1,565 mm, 41.8 pounds (19.0 kg), 

 male, Scaletta, southern section of Straits of Messina. 



Spec. Med-15: 1,450 mm, 34.1 pounds (15.5 kg), 

 male, Strait of Messina, Aug. 10, 1961. 



Spec. Med-16: 1,345 mm, 23.5 pounds (10.7 kg), 

 male, Strait of Messina, Aug. 1961. 



Spec. Med-17: 1,265 mm, 17.6 pounds (8.0 kg), 

 male, Strait of Messina, Aug. 3, 1961. 



Spec. Med-18: 1,350 mm, 24.2 pounds (11.0 kg), 

 male, Sicily, Aug. 1961. 



Spec. Med-19: 1,435 mm, 26.4 pounds (12.0 kg), sex 

 unknown, Straits of Taormina, Aug. 7, 1961. 



Spec. Med-20: 1,510 mm, 30.4 pounds (13.8 kg), 

 female, Strait of Messina, Aug. 4, 1961. 



Spec. Med-21: 1,465 mm, 32.8 pounds (14.9 kg), 

 female(?), coast of Messina, Aug. 8, 1961 (pectoral 

 girdle UMML 11073). 



Spec. Med-22: 1,455 mm, 30.8 pounds (14.0 kg), 

 male, Zona Scaletta, south of Messina, Aug. 8, 1961. 



Spec. Med-23: 1,370 mm, 21.3 pounds (9.7 kg) 

 (gutted), sex unknown, coast of Calabria. 



Spec. Med-24: 1,410 mm, 23.1 pounds (10.5 kg), 

 female, Strait of Messina, Aug. 3, 1961. 



Spec. Med-25: 1,375 mm, 24.2 pounds (11.0 kg), 

 female, Strait of Messina, Aug. 7, 1961. 



Spec. Med-26: 1,460 mm, 29.7 pounds (13.5 kg), 

 female, Strait of Messina, Aug. 3, 1961. 



Spec. Med-27: 1,326 mm, 22 pounds (10.0 kg), 

 female, Strait of Messina, Aug. 2-3, 1961. 



Spec. Med-28: 1,307 mm, 20.9 pounds (9.5 kg), 

 female, Strait of Messina, Aug. 1961. 



Spec. Med-29: 1,390 mm, 26 pounds (11.8 kg), 

 male, Strait of Messina, Aug. 2-3, 1961. 



Spec. Med-30: 1,382 mm, 22 pounds (10.0 kg), 

 male, Torre Faro, Aug.-Sept. 1961. 



Spec. Med-31: Mutilated, 20.5 pounds (9.3 kg), 

 male, Contesse, 500 m off coast, Aug.-Sept. 1961. 



Spec. Med-32: 1,493 mm, 50.6 pounds (23.0 kg), sex 

 unknown, Strait of Messina, Aug. 4, 1961. 



Spec. Med-33: 1,640 mm, 44.4 pounds (20.1 kg), 

 female, Strait of Messina, Aug. 4, 1961 (pectoral 

 girdle UMML 11071). 



Spec. Med-34: 1,360 mm, 26.4 pounds (12.0 kg), 

 male, Strait of Messina, Aug.-Sept. 1961. 



Spec. Med-35: 1,868 mm, 81.4 pounds (36.9 kg), sex 

 unknown, Sicily, Aug.-Sept. 1961. 



123 



