Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. (IA mobot31753002848262).pdf/20

 Malayan Fishes.

PART I.

GIANT HERRINGS.

(ELOPSIDAE.)

This family contains but few species; the individuals however, abound in the tropical seas and are of great importance both as food and game fishes.

The Bandang or Měnangin (Elops hawaiiensis) is known to Americans in the Philippines & Hawaii as the Ten-pounder. It reaches a length of about 4 feet and is an edible fish of considerable value.

The Bulan-bulan (Megalops cyprinoides) is the Indo-Pacific Tarpon and is very closely related to the well known sporting fish of America. It is known in Australia as the Ox-Eye or Big Eyed Herring.

It has a very wide range extending from India to Australia and from East Africa to the Sandwich Islands. It is known to penetrate the rivers right up into fresh water and has been successfully cultivated in brackish or even fresh water.

From an edible standpoint it ranks very high. Its flesh is firm, well flavoured and possessed of good keeping qualities. It attains a length of 5 feet and when our fisheries are better known it may, as Stead has remarked, "turn out to be as great a sporting fish as the Tarpon."

THE FEATHER BACKS.

(NOTOPTERIDAE.)

The Bělida (Notopterus notopterus) is a fairly common fresh water fish which attains a length of well over three feet. The belly is said to be extremely rich and well flavoured but the back contains numerous small bones.

THE MILK FISH.

(CHANIDAE.)

The Bandang or Jangas (Chanos chanos) is the well known Milk-fish or White Millet and is known as the Salmon-Herring in Australia. It is a sea and estuary fish and feeds on "sea moss", an alga (Oedogonium).