JAPANESE EISHES. 
617 
100. Macrourus asper (Gunther). 
Coryphxnoides asper Gunther, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., 187V, xx, p. 440; south of Japan in 1,875 fathoms. 
Macrurus asper Gunther, Deep Sea Fishes, Challenger, p. 137, pi. xxxvi, fig. A, 1887. 
This species is known from the description and figure published by Gunther. 
(Asper, rough.) 
10. CCELORHYNCHUS Giorna. 
Ctrlorhynchus Giorna, MOm. Ac. Sci. Turin, xvi, 178, 1803 (“ Ceslorhynche la vttle” ) . 
Krohnius Cocco, Lettera al Sig. Augusto Krohn, Pesci del Mare de Messina, 1, 1844 { filameritosus ; larva). 
Paramacrurus Bleeker, Versl. Med. Ak. Wetensk. Amsterd. 1874, 103 ( australis ). 
Oxymacrurus Bleeker, Versl. Med. Ak. Wetensk. Amsterd. 1874, 103 (japonicus) . 
This genus agrees with Macrourus in all essential respects, except that the small mouth is wholly 
below the long-pointed, sturgeon-like snout. Dorsal spine smooth in typical species, those with ser- 
rate spine having been separated under the preoccupied generic name Ccdocephalus Gilbert A Cramer, 
which is replaced by Matceoceplialus Berg. Species numerous. 
(koTXoz, hollow; fjvyx°S, snout.) 
a. Scales smaller, 5 to 6 series between dorsal spine and lateral line. 
b. Scales each with 3 to 5 strong radiating ridges; snout nearly twice as long as eye, which is 4.5 in head ; inter- 
space between dorsals one-third more than base of first japonicus. 
lib. Scales each with 2 to 5 strong parallel ridges; snout nearly twice eye; interspace between dorsals equal to 
base of first dorsal pamllelus. 
bbb. Scales each with many (16 to 19) nearly parallel ridges, which are rather weak; snout short; interspace 
between dorsals longer than base of first tdxhinouyri. 
aa. Scales large, 3 to 4 between lateral line and first dorsal; snout short and broad, suggesting a duck’s bill; scales 
with 6 to 9 weakly divergent ridges. 
b. Interspace between dorsals 1.4 times base of first; snout 2.4 in head; eye 1.5 in snout anatirostris. 
bb. Interspace between dorsalsjnuch less; snout longer; eye smaller than in preceding tokiensis. 
101. Ccelorhynchus japonicus (Schlegel). Hige. 
Macrurus japonicus Schlegel, Fauna Japonica, 1846, p. 256, pi. exit, fig. 2, Nagasaki; Gunther, Deep-sea Fishes, Chal- 
lenger, 1887, p. 127, pi. xxix, fig. c, Enoshima, in 345 fathoms; Steindachner & Doderlein, Fische Japans, lv, 283, 
Tokyo. 
Dorsal n, 9 or u, 10; ventrals 7; pectoral 18; 5 or 6 scales in a series from lateral line to base of 
first dorsal. Snout long, narrow, subtrihedral, tapering to a very acute point, the lateral margins with 
very slight curve, or none, continuing in a direct line the infraorbital ridge; width of snout opposite 
anterior margin of orbit is contained 1.4 to 1.6 in its length; its height at front of mouth is contained 
l. 75 to 2 times in its length; mouth comparatively large, length of maxillary equaling diameter of eye, 
reaching a vertical from posterior margin of pupil; teeth rather coarser than usual in this genus, a few 
of the outer teeth sometimes slightly longer than the others, all typically with arrow-shaped tips; inner 
pair of occipital ridges converge gently backward; outer pair decurved behind eye; 7 or 8 tubercles 
represent the gillrakers of outer arch. The gill membranes have a well-marked free margin behind, 
on median line. 
Second dorsal spine smooth throughout, its height contained 1.2 in that of snout. Interspace 
between dorsals is four-thirds the base of first; origin of second dorsal vertically above second or 
third anal ray; largest pectoral rays slightly exceed length of postorbital part of head; scales on back 
and sides marked with 3 to 5 strongly radiating, subequal, spinous ridges, posterior spines projecting 
beyond margin of scale; scales on breast similar, but smaller and more crowded; on upper surface of 
snout the scales have usually only the median crest developed, but the median series of 12 scales 
attached to the subjacent bony ridge contain each 6 or 7 strongly radiating ridges; on top and sides of 
head scales with a single median crest predominate, but the temporal region and the upper part of the 
head cheeks and opercles contain also many scales with 3 to 5 ridges; lower surface of head, except 
gular and branchiostegal membranes, densely covered with smaller scales, bearing each a median 
spinous crest; nail-like process at tip of snout longitudinally rugose and spinous; no depression or 
naked pit in front of ventral fins. 
Color is dark brownish, lighter in snout, fins all blackish, including ventral filament; lining of 
buccal cavity blue-black; gill cavity and peritoneum brownish black. 
Seven specimens, 33 to 43 cm. in length, were obtained at Misaki. A stuffed skin was obtained 
at Nagasaki. The species is not infrequent in the markets of southern Japan. 
This species, with others in the family, is known as hige, a word meaning moustache, perhaps 
from the large interorbital ridge. Possibly the word grenadier has the same origin in its relation to 
these fishes. 
