KOPPELQUESTS - Photo Gallery 4/2/2004

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A 259 kilogram (that's over 520 pounds!) tuna at today's auction at the Tsukiji fish market. At the average wholesale price of $25/pound, it will sell to the suppliers for over $13,000! The suppliers then sell to restaurants at an even larger markup.	Some of the tuna being auctioned today...	Prospective buyers check out each fish using a hook and flashlight. They prod inside the belly, and also roll small amounts of meat between their fingers to check the quality of each fish.
Some of the fish are headless - we're not sure why!	Another fish being checked out before the auction	The auctions are underway!	An auction in progress - the men with blue badges on their hats are authorized buyers. They're actually "suppliers" who prepare the fish and sell to restaurants and stores.
	A sold fish being loaded on a cart and wheeled away.	The sold fish are taken to the huge market located right next to the auction area	A couple more sold fish being taken away.