FISHES COLLECTED IN JAPAN. 275 



42. SALMO ORIENTALIS, Pallas. 



Salmo orientalis, Pallas, Zoog. Eoss. Asiat. III., 367. 

 " " 0. andVal. 21, 356. 



PLATE IX, fig. 2. Seduced. (Named Salmo masou on the plate.) 



Notes. — From Hakodadi, May and June, (21| inches,) Masou. 



The 8. 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 Kussia." 



Pallas's description, in brief, is as follows : "Resembling the Salmo nobilis (S. Salar.-L.) in 

 form, but broader. Head 4J 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, " denies inpalalo tripliei series," a vague expression, which seems to prove that ho was counting the 

 teeth on the palatines as two series, leaving one for the vomer. 



