COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SCOMBROID FISHES. 
449 
Venules to the cutaneous vein are arranged in one row, on the side 
towards the lateral inedian line. These venules run side by side with the 
arterioles, and are united to a large vessel just before joining the cutaneous 
vein. The upper half of the diameter of the cutaneous artery is concealed 
under the cutaneous vein, and arterioles from the cutaneous artery are arranged 
in one or two rows, and more numerous than the venules, are sent from the- 
exterior median line of the cutaneous artery. A cutaneous vein on each side 
of the body joins the cardinal vein below the ninth vertebra, and the cardinal 
vein pom's into the right Cuvierian duct. Each cutaneous vein sends a large 
branch to the kidneys, before joining the cardinal vein. Tliis is a renal 
portal vein. In the haemal canal a thick rod of plexus of transverse arterioles 
and venules is joined. The diameter of the plexus is a little broader than that of 
the vertebra in the precaudal region. The second branch of the coeliacomesenteric 
artery nourishes the right dorsal side of the stomach, spleen, and intestine. 
Second vertebra wider than high. Transverse processes are not well 
developed and are turned downwards from the ninth vertebra, and the haemal 
arch is closed from the 11th vertebra, as in Neot/mnnus rnacropterus. 
Back greyish blue, sides silvery greyish with colourless elongated spots 
in about five longitudinal rows. Dorsals, pectorals, and the ventrals blackish, 
but the tip of the second dorsal and the anal is washed with yellow. Anal fin 
silvery. Finlets, both dorsal and anal are yellowish with greyish margin. 
Smallest tunny not only in our waters, but perhaps in the world. Fish 
about 70 cm in length and ca 6 kg in weight is common. Such a small 
tunny contained large and nearly ripe ovaries in February. Fish-mongers told 
me that a 12 kg fish is maximum. 
Flesh is pale in colour, fatty and rather soft, but its taste is very nice. 
Very limited in distribution. Found on the western and southern coast 
of Kyushyu and on the southwestern part of the Japan Sea. So far as I 
know', it is caught very near the coast, rather rare, and was quite unknown to 
science, till I got it from the market of Tokyo in 1913. People of the market 
considered it as a variety of Neothunnus rnacropterus. It is rather striking that 
this species remained unnoticed for a very long period. In autumn a few 
examples are said to be found every day in the market at Nagasaki. 
Caught in pound-nets, and sometimes with rods and lines in littoral water 
