Ｇｙｏｇｙｏｇｙｏ

A fish believed to be extinct for 70 years has been found in a lake in Yamanashi Prefecture by an eccentric TV personality who calls himself "Mr. Fish."
　The "kunimasu" salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka kawamurae) was thought to have fallen victim to Japan's hydro-electric power development program in 1940.
　It was only found in Lake Tazawako in Akita Prefecture and, when acidic water was drawn into the lake to drive the hydro-electric turbines, the kunimasu disappeared. It has been listed as extinct by the Environment Ministry.
　The freshwater fish, which grows to about 30 centimeters, seems, however, to have found a hideaway in Lake Saiko in Yamanashi Prefecture, far to the south of its previous stronghold.
　A group of Kyoto University researchers led by fisheries science professor Tetsuji Nakabo found that what local fishermen have been calling "kuromasu," or black salmon, was in fact kunimasu.
　The group caught nine kuromasu between March and April. DNA analysis found that they were different from "himemasu," a landlocked form of sockeye salmon abundant in Lake Saiko.
　Records show that 100,000 kunimasu eggs were sent from Tazawako to Saiko in 1935 to stock the Yamanashi lake. Nakabo believes Saiko's kuromasu are descendants of kunimasu released at that time.
　"Saiko's water temperature is comparatively low, good for kunimasu's survival," Nakabo said.
　The discovery is thanks to TV personality and illustrator Sakana-kun (Mr. Fish), known for his trademark fish-shaped hat.
　A self-taught fish expert, he now serves as a visiting associate professor at the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology.
　In March, Sakana-kun showed Nakabo, a long-time collaborator and adviser, chilled fish identified by Saiko fishermen as himemasu. The fish had been sent to him to help him draw illustrations of kunimasu for Nakabo.
　Only formaldehyde-preserved specimens of kunimasu were available to him, and he felt that recently caught specimens of other landlocked salmon would help his work.
　When the fish arrived, however, he began to suspect he might actually be looking at kunimasu from beyond the grave.
　Nakabo was flabbergasted. One was carrying eggs, a sure sign that it was not a himemasu because that fish lays its eggs in autumn. He shouted: "These are kunimasu!"

東京海洋大学の準教授も務めるタレントのさかなくんにより70年間絶滅されていたとされる魚を確認することに成功した。
hydro-electric/水力発電
self-taught/独学の
flabbergasted/びっくりする

感想
さかなくんはテレビでふざけているだけではないと知った。正直ギョギョッとした。