IM C. ISHIKAWA. 



shorter than the second and the third branched rays. The posterior 

 border of the fin is again not straight, but is bounded by an irregular 

 line. Moreover the proportional length of the three simple rays are 

 different from the description given by Schlegel as will be seen from the 

 figure. This, however, is a little different in our second male measuring 

 270 mm. in its total length, and therefore 30 mm. smaller the first. In 

 this specimen the third simple ray is nearly two-thirds the length of the 

 first branched ray, the second simple ray two-thirds of the third simple, 

 and the first simple ray a little less than one-half of the second ; thus 

 the third simple ray as compared with the first l)ranched ray is longer 

 in this specimen than in the other, showing thus that in smaller in- 

 dividuals the proportional lengths of these rays approach more to those 

 described by Schlegel. This is more so with the female in which the 

 third simple ray is nearly of the same length with the first branched 

 ray (Fig. 3), and the posterior border of the fin forms nearly a straight 

 line as Schlegel describes. But the longest ra^^s of the fin are also the 

 second and the third branched rays as in the male. 



But our larger specimens can not also be said to represent lieyond 

 all doubt full grown animals : the anatomical examination of the largest 

 female (q I.) showing the immature condition of the ovarian eggs. The 

 Fisherman and Fishmongers of the lake told me, however, that our 

 largest specimen represents the current size of the largest Hasu. 



In an old manuscript by Kobayashi — '^ ^ # (Considerations on 

 the fishes of the lake) — written in the third year of Bunlcwa (ninety 

 years ago), is found the following note on Hasu : — 



" During Autumn, Winter and Spring, the fish do not ascend the 

 liver, but remain far away from the shore, l^eing very seldom found 

 even in bays. They are then caught by large drawing nets. But in 



Summer they vigorously ascend rivers The fins and abdomen of 



the males then show purplish colour and are ver}^ beautiful. The 

 white spots around the month are then also much more conspicuous in 



males than in females They are fond of congregating in clear 



waters of rivers and of eating small fishes. The feinales affectionately 



