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ICHTHYOLOGY IN JAPAN. (ECONOMIC SPECIES.) 

 By Prof. McIntosh, M.D., LL.D., F.B.S., &c. 



The second part of the popular account of the Economic 

 Fishes of Japan, by Messrs. Otaki, Fujita, and Higurashi,* con- 

 tains a description of five edible fishes, viz. Scombrops cheilo- 

 dipteroides, Blk., the Mutsu ; Scomber colias, Gmel., the Speckled 

 Mackerel; Trachurus japonicus, T. & S., the Maaji ; Decapterus 

 muroadsi, T. & S., the Muroadsi ; and Paralichthys olivaceus, 

 T. & S., the Hirame (proper). 



Four imperial quarto coloured plates accompany the text, one 

 containing two figures, and all are exquisite representations, 

 apparently from life, by the same artist, Kumataro Ito. 



The first fish in the present part is Scombrops cheilodipteroides 

 — the Mutsu — one of the Percidce, an edible fish of some size, 

 which abounds on the Pacific shores of Japan, has pelagic eggs 

 — spawned in January and February, when it comes to shallower 

 water from its usual haunts in two to three hundred fathoms on 

 rocky or sandy ground. Like the young Cod, the young Mutsus 

 are found swimming off the rocks in three or four fathoms, and 

 are supposed to attain maturity in three or four years. It is 

 used chiefly in the fresh state, and its roe is also much esteemed. 



The "Spanish " or Speckled Mackerel {Scomber colias), which 

 recently was included in the able Beport on the Japanese and 

 European Mackerels, by Prof. Kishinouye,t forms a very im- 

 portant fishery with nets and lines along the south-eastern coast, 

 finely chopped Squids or Shrimps being thrown into the water 

 to allure the fishes. In dark nights also torches are employed 

 in the boats. The food of the species consists of a great variety 

 of pelagic invertebrate animals, and has been carefully investi- 

 gated by Prof. Kishinouye. The wide distribution of the Mackerels 

 is a feature of both interest and importance. 



* No 2, vol. i. Shokwabo, publisher, Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Japan. 

 f ' Kept. Imper. Fisheries Bureau,' No. v. vol. ii. 1894. 



