Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. (IA mobot31753002848262).pdf/53

 SUCKING FISHES.

(ECHINEIDIDAE.)

These fishes, generally known as Remora, attach themselves by means of a remarkable adhesive dise on the upper surface of the head to boats and ships, or to whales, sharks and turtles and in this way manage to do a good deal of travelling with the minimum amount of effort. As they are not strong swimmers they obtain a much larger supply of food by riding about in this way than otherwise would be possible.

The natives of Cuba, Zanzibar and the Torres Straits use these fish for catching turtles; the fish being held by a metal ring round the base of the tail to which a line is attached. "When one of these fish, a foot in length, has its wet sucker applied to a table, and is allowed time to lay hold, it adheres so tightly that it is impossible to pull it off by a fair vertical strain" (Lydekker).

The Gĕmi (Echineis naucrates) is very common in these seas. It takes a bait readily, is edible, and may, occasionally, be seen in the markets.

GOBLIN-FISHES.

(SCORPAENIDAE.)

Some members of this family are Perch-shaped and edible, growing to a large size (Sebastes, Scorpaena, etc.).

Nearly all are distinguished by a powerful armature, either of the head, or fin spines, or both, and in some the spines are provided with poison glands (Scorpaena, Pterois, Pelor and Synancia) and a sting from these spines is extremely painful.

Lěpu is the Malay synonym for all members of this family.

FLAT-HEADS.

(PLATYCEPHALIDAE.)

This family with a single genus, Platycephalus, and some 40 species, inhabits the coasts of the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific.

The Malay generic term is Baji-baji, so called from the wedge shaped head, and so far some four species have been identified in Malayan seas.

They live on the bottom, hidden in the sand as a rule, and as they depend on their protective colouring and spines to save them from possible enemies, they do not swim to any distance when disturbed but dart away for an instant and then lie motionless half buried in the sand.

This peculiarity renders them particularly liable to be taken by trawls and a large proportion of the catches made by the New South Wales trawlers is composed of these fish.

They are good edible fish and common in the markets.