212 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



the postpterygial cartilage. This measured about 

 15 cms. to 7 cms. in diameter, and it was raised up 

 about 2 to 3 cms. It was very soft to the touch, having 

 all the appearance of an enormous blister. On cutting 

 into it a dense black fluid exuded, and the growth 

 partially collapsed. The part of the fish containing the 

 tumour was then cut out and hardened, and it was seen 

 that it was a very large melanotic growth reaching down 

 to about 6 to 7 cms. below the surface of the skin. 

 Most of its interior was liquid, having evidently under- 

 gone extensive necrosis. 



There were two other large tumours on the dorsal 

 surface, measuring approximately about 5 to 6 cms. in 

 diameter, and raised up 1 to 2 cms. above the general 

 surface of the skin. They were dense black in 

 colour, and without any appearance of integument on 

 their upper surfaces. They were surrounded by black 

 pigmented annular areas of skin. 



There were several smaller tumours, apparently 

 without any pigmentation, about 2 to 3 cms. in diameter 

 and projecting about 1 cm. above the surface of the 

 skin. On cutting through these they proved to be large 

 melanotic growths beneath the integument, which was 

 unaffected. They were nearly spherical in shape. 

 Several other pigment spots on the skin also proved to 

 be similar growths in the muscle substance beneath the 

 integument. 



Even in other parts of the fish, where there was no 

 external pigmentation or other morbid indications, the 

 tissues immediately beneath the skin proved to be 

 affected. In these cases, when the flesh was cut into, 

 there were irregular patches of dense black matter, some- 

 times extending along the fibrous tissue sheets separating 

 the muscle bundles, and sometimes even diffusing into the 



