FISHES COLLECTED IN JAPAN. 23 
42. SALMO ORIENTALIS, Pallas. 
SALMO ORIENTALIS, Pallas, Zoog. Ross. Asiat. III., 367. 
Ce a C. and Val. 21, 356. 
PLATE IX, fig. 2. Reduced. (Named Salmo masou on the plate.) 
Nores.—From Hakodadi, May and June, (213 inches,) Masou. 
The S. orientalis of Pallas is a fish of large size, reaching to 60 pounds in weight, ascending 
large rivers only, in the months of April May and June, in great numbers. In Kamschatka 
it is considered the best food in the world, and it is a common saying there, ‘‘ that he who has 
tasted the head of this fish will never wish to return to Russia.”’ 
Pallas’s description, in brief, is as follows: ‘‘Resembling the Salmo nobilis (S. Salar. L.) in 
form, but broader. Head 4} times in total length, conical, a little compressed. Jaws equal, 
and pointed, the lower one slightly recurved. Lips fleshy. Anterior lower teeth hooked. 
Triple series of teeth on palate,* a double row on tongue. Opercles large and rounded. Eye 
of medium size. Body slightly compressed, dorsal and ventral outline convex. Lateral line 
straight, rising towards the opercles. Scales large. Rays, B. 17; D. 12; A. 15; P. 16; 
V. 10. Dorsal with single rays in front. Ventrals with a thin scale at their base, nearly as 
long as the fins, carinate and bilamellate? (carinata bilamellata,) differing from any other spe- 
cies. Caudal large, crescent-shaped on margin. Colors dusky blue or black, abdomen white. 
Irides silvery. Head jaws and tongue dusky leaden blue. Opercles silvery blue. Dorsal and 
caudal spotted; adipose dorsal dusky. Pectorals dusky inside, bluish white outside. Anal 
bluish. Flesh, when fresh, red, often fulvous, becoming paler by coction.”’ 
Mons. Valenciennes, who examined dried specimens of this fish in Berlin, describes it as being 
‘*broader and thicker, in proportion to its length, (plus large et plus trapu,) than the common 
salmon, with jaws slightly curved, the upper one a little the longest. Outline of back and 
abdomen rather convex, of a silvery color, dusky blue on the back, and white beneath.’’ He 
says of a drawing made in Kamtschatka by Mertens, from a female, that it was of an ‘ ashy 
blue, darker on the back, sides and abdomen lighter, with a rosy-red tinge. Numerous crescent- 
shaped spots above the lateral line. Anterior margin of pectorals, ventrals, and anal pink.’ 
Mr. Mertens observed that the males have longer opercles than the females. 
The drawing by the American draughtsman represents a fish formed as above described, with 
outline of back and head regularly arched. Height in front of dorsal nearly equal to length 
of head ; at base of tail 3} times in height of body. Head four and a quarter times in total 
length. (This is much larger than in the common salmon.) Head pointed, conical ; upper jaw 
rather the longest, both armed with strong teeth. All the fins short and stout, with pointed 
tips and emarginated borders. Anal very small for the fish. Tail with pointed lobes, and 
regularly lunate. Dorsal wholly anterior to ventrals; anterior base of last ray half way between 
snout and edge of caudal. Adipose dorsal over front of anal, and of moderate size. Lateral 
line rises near the opercles. Scales rather small, but represented too large in the figure. Head 
dusky above, leaden blue on sides, with a few dark blotches; white beneath ; tongue dusky. 
Irides silvery yellow. Body dark dusky, above the lateral line lighter, and tinged with purple 
= The text of Pallas is, ‘‘dentes in palato triplici series,’’ a vague expression, which seems to prove that he was counting the 
teeth on the palatines as two series, leaving one for the vomer. 
