COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SCOMBROID FISHES. 
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rows of colourless dots in alternation. These lines and series of dots are 
twenty or more in number, and they are nearly vertical in young specimens, 
running through from the back to the belly ; but they bend gradually back¬ 
ward towards the ventral median line as the fish grows. At first only colourless 
lines make their appearance, and afterwards senes of dots are intercalated 
between them. Moreover the lines are also divided into dots afterwards at the 
belly, and they disappear gradually from the back. The dots are irregular 
in arrangement iu the caudal region. First dorsal greyish, second dorsal 
greyish with yellow tip, dorsal finlets yellow, and the anal and anal finlets 
silvery. Pectorals nearly black, ventrals greyish. Iris golden yellow. 
Flesh is dark reddish, comparatively firm, and not very oily. It is 
superior in quality, especially in colder months, and is much esteemed. Two 
year old fish are called “ medi,” and are much valued by epicurians. It is told 
that in and after the spawning season the flesh is often mottled with darker 
spots and is much inferior in quality. Such flesh is distinguished by the name 
of “ azukimi ”, meaning red bean flesh. 
This species attains a gigantic size. Mr. Hideo Suzuki told me that 
two large tunnies, each weighing about 375 kg were caught in a pound-net 
near Odawara in 1913. These were exceptionally large. Tunnies weighing 
more than 150 kg are considered pretty large in general. 
This is the most common species of our tunnies, widely and abundantly 
distributed in our waters. It is easily distinguished from other tunnies by its 
small eyes, short pectorals, sharply bent lateral line, triangular air-bladder, 
finely striated liver, wliite markings in the belly, yellowish finlets without 
black margin, etc. 
In winter this species is found in the southern part of our coast, as far 
south as 32° N. Not found near the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, nor Ogasawara 
Islands. In summer this tunny migrates northward as far as about 46° N. 
In winter the tunny fishing is actively pursued on the Pacific coasts of south 
and middle Japan, by means of long lines on or round deep, off-shore 
banks, and on the northeastern coast of Hondo by means of drift nets. In 
summer this tunuy is caught on the Pacific coast as well as on the Japan 
Sea coasts of north Japan by means of pound-nets. Only a few examples 
are caught on the east coast of Chosen. Found in waters of 5-20° C, and 
