456 
KAMAKICHI KISHINOUYE : 
known literary work by Kenko Yoshida at the time of the Ashikaga Shoguns, 
it is stated that the bonite was valued in Kamakura at that time, though it 
had been condemned as an inferior fish in previous times. In the time of the 
Tokugawa Shoguns, however, an extravagant price was paid for an early ar¬ 
rival of bonites in late spring iu Yedo, as was the case with the mackerel in Lon¬ 
don informer days. Many short poems called “ hokku,” mostly satirical, were 
written about the early bonite at the time, and many extraordinary tales 
are still told about it. At that time the fish was eaten raw as sashimi. 
Early in summer the generative org;an of the bonite is still small, and the 
climate is not yet so hot as to cause quick putrefaction of the fish. Therefore 
bonites of prime condition were obtained in this season, and at this time the 
fish was caught near the coast and was sent by express rowing boats, manned 
by about ten men to each boat. Thus the gastronomers of Yedo were able to 
taste bonites in a prime condition, and to enjoy the very rich flavour a few 
horn's after they were caught. At present bonito-fishing is conducted in very 
remote grounds only, and though caught in early spring, the fish are brought 
to market, preserved in ice, two or three days after capture. Consequently 
then choice flavour being lost, early bonites are nowadays no longer estimated 
by epicurians. 
It grows to a length of about one metre, generally 18 kg in weight, rare¬ 
ly 25 kg. Spawning seems to take place from May to August. Tunnies and 
spear-fishes are enemies. Rhynchobothrium is inevitably found in the flesh of 
the bonite, especially abundant in autumn. Bonitos caught in off-shore waters 
contain a much smaller quantity of fat than those caught in littoral waters. 
The flesh of bonites is longitudinally cut into four pieces and then smoked and 
dried after boiling in water. This dried article called “ katsuwobushi ” is a 
necessary article in our household, being used as a condiment after shredding. 
Its annual production is ca 11,000,000 kg. 
Genus Euthynnus Lütken. 
Euthynnus, Lütken, MS. in Jordan & Gilbert, Syn. Fish. N. America, 429, 1883. 
Body plump, rounded, and naked outside of the corselet. Mouth rather 
large, maxillary reaching the vertical from the centre of the eye. Teeth more 
developed in size and number than in the other genera of the Katsuwonidae.. 
