440 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



origin of the two dorsals are therefore prominent, the profile concave behind them. 

 Body deepest nnder first dorsal spine, the depth 3| in length. Greatest width of 

 body near ventral outline immediately behind ventral fin, 5} in length. 



A series of small plates along base of spinous and anterior portion of soft dorsal, 

 bearing one spinule to each ray ; plates all concealed,, the Hj)inc8 alone projecting. 

 Upper lateral series of plates very small, bearing each a minute sjjiuous point. This 

 series is narrowly separated from base of sjjinous dorsal and runs along base of soft 

 dorsal, the two series uniting immediately behind the latter, bearing each a pair of 

 diverging spines. Lateral series with very strong spines, the largest being the 

 anterior one of the lower lateral series. The upper lateral series is incomplete ante- 

 riorly, ending under the eighth dorsal spine. It is apparently conqdeted by two very 

 strong spines, which belong, however, to the series of the lateral line. Ventral series 

 of spines small, running along immediate base of anal fin, the pairs uniting behind 

 the anal, the resulting plates bearing a pair of spines. As in the case of the dorsal 

 series, this union is more or less irregular and incomplete, the corresponding plates 

 sometimes failing to unite, and then either maintaining their opposite position or 

 alternating. Lateral line with few widely spaced pairs of pores, those of each pair 

 approximated, horizontally instead of vertically placed. The interspaces bear in 

 the posterior part of the body a minute prickle each; in the case of the two or three 

 anterior pairs these become very strong spines, nearly on a line with the incomplete 

 upper lateral series of plates. Anus anterior, nearly midway between base of ventrals 

 and front of anal. 



First dorsal spine vertically over upper axil of pectoral. The fin is rigidly spread 

 in alcoholic specimens. The third and fourth spines are longest and about equal 

 length of snout and eye; interspace between dorsals equaling half length of orbit; 

 anal much longer than second dorsal, its first ray under last dorsal spine, its 

 last ray slightly in advance of the last ray of soft dorsal; anal membranes deeply 

 incised, especially anteriorly; caudal short, rounded; pectoral of two distinct divi- 

 sions, the upper portion consisting of four or five rays joined by membrane, the 

 lower part of eight entirely disconnected rays. These upper and lower portions of 

 the fin are used alternately in pushing the fish forward on the bottom, the upper 

 lobe bending downward and forward for the purpose. In the aquarium the fish 

 appears to walk, resting alternately on the upper and lower pectoral rays and on the 

 front rays of the anal. The longest pectoral raj's reach to or just beyond front of 

 anal. Ventrals short, not reaching vent in females, reaching to or slightly beyond 

 vent in males. Dorsal ix to xi-6 or 7; anal 9 or 10; pectoral 13 or 14; ventral i, 2; 

 caudal 13; vertebra? 8 -f-28; lateral line 7 to 9. 



Color: Blackish or grayish violet, paler below. Breast and belly in front of A-ent 

 marbled Avith darker. Anterior part of sides to opposite last dorsal spines dark, the 

 darker region limited bj' a still darker band, which runs upon the fin. Posterior 

 part of body paler, usually with three darker crossbars, the last of which often 

 broadens out to occupy all of the caudal peduncle. Caudal with a dark bar at base 

 and another at posterior margin, the extreme edge white. The dark vertical bars 

 are continued on to the anal fin; anal rays also spotted with black near the tips. 

 Ventral with a l)lack bar or spot at base; sometimes a second on middle of fin. 

 Pectorals indefinitely crossbarred, largely pale on basal portion. The color varies 

 greatly, the lighter areas on body and fins often with dusky marblings. 



90. Podothecus acipenserinus (Tilesius). 



One of the most abundant species obtained, occurring everywhere in shallow 

 water around the Aleutian Islands and in Bristol Bay. Vertebra-, 13 + 28. Stations 

 3213, 3215, 3216, 3219, 3238, 3239, 3240, 3246, 3248, 3249, 3250, 3251, 3252, 3259, 3264, 3265, 

 3266, 3267, 3269, 3271, 3272, 3273, 3278, 3279, 3280, 3281, 3283, 3284, 3285, 3286, 3287, 3290, 

 3291, 3293, 3294, 3296, 3298, 3299, 3300, 3301, 3302,3303,3309, and 3334; depths, 11^ to 

 71 fathoTOS, 



