256 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



Asiatica, describes many fish from the North Pacific, some of which occur on the coast of Japan. 

 The loss of the plates, which were to have accompanied his work, makes it sometimes difficult to 

 identify his species. The only special work on the subject is the Ichthyological portion of the 

 Fauna Japonica. This of itself is a truly magnificent work, and but few countries can boast of 

 one equally valuable. The authors of this portion of it— Messrs. Temminck and Schlegel — 

 worked from the notes and collections of Mr. Burger, who besides preserved specimens, had 

 collected many drawings by natives of recent fish. 



This work, commenced in 1842, was completed in 1850, and contains descriptions of 358 

 species, of which 294 are figured on 143 plates. The whole is in large folio. Schlegel seems 

 to have been the chief author of it. Sir John Eichardson, in his report on the Ichthyology of 

 the seas of China and Japan, prepared for the 15th meeting of the British Association, in 1845, 

 has added much information to what was already known. The ' ' Histoire des Poissons ' ' con- 

 tains much new matter on the same subject ; among other things, Mr. Valenciennes having 

 identified most of the Pallasian species of salmon found on the eastern shores of Siberia. In this 

 great work will be found all possible information relating to authorities on Japanese Ichthyology. 



Some few fish found in the seas of Japan are described in the zoological reports of recent 

 English expeditions, as those of the Blossom and the Samarang. The indefatigable Bleecker, 

 who has contributed much to our knowledge of the Ichthyology of the Polynesian Islands, has 

 also published three special papers on the subject of Japanese fish, and has reviewed the whole 

 of this portion of the Japanese Fauna. 



Much, however, remains to be done before the actual number of species found on the shores of 

 this interesting archipelago can be determined with any approach to accuracy. From the skill 

 of its inhabitants in the capture and preparation of fish, it is probable that the fisheries of Japan 

 will yet prove to be of the greatest value to the commercial world. 



Note. — A small collection of Japanese fish was made by a physician who accompanied the Expedition, but they could not 

 be procured for examination. 



The surveying expedition to the North Pacific has recently brought home very large collections in zoology, which are 

 noticed in a recent number of the American Journal of Science and Art. Among these collections, made by the accom- 

 plished zoologist of the Expedition Mr. William Stimpson, there are 500 species of fish ; of which many are from 

 Japan and the neighboring waters. 



