REPORT OF AN INVESTIGATION OF THE SPEARFISHES OF FORMOSAN WATERS 



By 

 Hiroshi Nakamura, Technician 



Introduction 



This study of the spearfishes has been made as a part of an investigation of the important 

 fishes of Taiwan. The study was begun in 1934 and thereafter specimens from catches landed at 

 the Keelung, Suo, Shinko, and Takao fish markets were studied, the anatomical work being done 

 mainly on material obtained at Suo and on the catch of the research vessel Shonan Maru belonging 

 to this laboratory. 



The spearfishes (local name^^ W^ ) are the most important element in the Formosan fish 

 catch, the production in recent years being as shown in the table below (based on Taiwan fishery 

 statistics). The value of these fishes is second only to that of the cultivated milkfish and occupies 

 the first place among the catches of all fisheries. 



Table 1, --Spearfish catch in six recent years 



1/ 



1 kin = 1. 32 lb. 



During the course of an earlier study on the sharks of Formosa the author had opportuni- 

 ties to observe the handling of spearfishes in the fish markets frequently, because the fishing 

 seasons for sharks and spearfishes coincide. 



The spearfishes are classified into a number of kinds by the commercial operators and 

 these varieties are handled separately, there being marked differences in their value. At first 

 it was extremely difficult to distinguish these varieties, but in the course of nnany repeated 

 observations the classification method of the commercial operators gradually became clear and 

 the author became able to distinguish the peculiarities of each variety and arrived at the opinion 

 that the classification made by the commercial people should be studied from the point of view 

 of systennatics. 



During the course of this study I have been constantly guided by Professor Hirasaka of 

 the Taihoku Innperial University, and for the illustrations I ann indebted to Mr. Sakuma of the 

 University. I also wish to express my thanks to all the persons in the fishing industry throughout 

 the island who have shown great understanding and who have facilitated this study in many ways, 

 and particularly to the Suo Suisan Kaisha. 



