440 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
origin of the two dorsals are therefore prominent, the profile concave behind them. 
Body deepest under first dorsal spine, the depth 3f in length. Greatest width of 
body near ventral outline immediately behind ventrai fin, 54 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 spines alone projecting. 
Upper lateral series of plates very small, bearing each a minute spinous point. This 
series is narrowly separated from base of spinous 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 isapparently completed 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 rays reach to or just beyond front of 
anal. Ventrals short, not reaching vent in females, reaching to or slightly beyond 
vent in males. Dorsal 1x to xI-6 or 7; anal 9 or 10; pectoral 13 or 14; ventral 1, 2; 
caudal 13; vertebree 8 + 28; lateral line 7 to 9. 
Color: Blackish or grayish violet, paler below. Breast and belly in front of vent 
marbled with darker. Anterior part of sides to opposite last dorsal spines dark, the 
darker region limited by a still darker band, which runs up on 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 black 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. Vertebre, 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, 114 to 
71 fathoms. 
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