1960 Volume 16 Issue 4 Pages 172-179
The distribution of zinc, copper and lead in Pneumatophorus tapeinocephalus, (Gomasaba), Seriola quinqueradiata (Buri), Trachurus trachurus (Ma-aji), Pneumatophorus Japonicus (Honsaba) and Chrysophrys major (Madai) were investigated.
In these fishes zinc is most abundant, copper is less rich and lead is least, and these facts are also the same as in Kastuwonus pelamis, Monocentris japonica and deep-sea fishes. The parts containing zinc as oxide more than 0.5% of the ashes are as follows: Pancreas and flesh (between ribs) of Seriola quinqueradiata, and pyloric coeca of Pneumatophorus tapeinocephalus. The parts less rich in zinc are the heart and flesh of Pneumatophorus tapeinocephalus, and the liver of Trachurus trachurus (large). Flesh usually contains zinc about 3-5 times as much as bone. Copper is generally rich in inner organs, and poor in hard parts such as bone, gills and scales. Copper is especially rich in such parts as testes and the liver of Pneumatophorus tapeinocephalus, flesh of Trachurus trachurus (large), total inner organs of Trachurus trachurus (small), and the pyloric coeca and stomch of Pneumato-phorus japonicus. Lead is richest in the heart and liver of Trachurus trachurus (large) but scarcely found in the heart of Pneumatophorus tapeinocephalus.
Scales or cuticles of Chrysophrys major, Seriola quiqueradiata and Trachurus trachurus (large) contain comparatively much lead, and that amounts to about 5 times as much as cop-per. In the eyes of Chrysophrys major and Seriola quinqueradiata lead is also comparati-vely much contained and richer than copper. The quantities of lead in both cases are almost the same, but copper is richer in Seriola quinqueradiata than in Chrysophrys major.
The quantities of zinc, copper and lead are nearly close respectively in stomachs and in pyloric coecas of these fishes, and it is perhaps the reason for the above mentioned facts that these two parts situate close together in the body of fish and are in intimate relations.
