Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. (IA mobot31753002848262).pdf/55

 BOX-FISHES.

(OSTRACIONTIDAE.)

This family is of no edible importance.

GLOBE-FISHES AND PORCUPINE FISHES.

(TETRODONTIDAE & DIODONTIDAE.)

These fish possess poisonous properties and instances have been recorded of persons dying shortly after eating them. Malay fishermen, however, commonly eat the Buntal pisang (Tetrodon lunaris) and some other species, being careful to remove all the poisonous organs.

SHARKS AND DOG-FISHES.

(CARCHARIIDAE, SCYLLIDAE, SPHYRNIDAE.)

Sharks are active predacious fishes living at different depths in the sea from the surface to nearly a thousand fathoms and ranging from mid-ocean to the shallower waters round the coasts in every part of the world. They are most abundant in the Tropics where they attain their greatest size, and some of the Sharks are the largest of living fishes.

Among the (Dog-fishes) we have in these waters the Tiger or Zebra Shark (Yu chechak or Yu to'kek) with dark bands on a tawny ground which attains a length of at least 10 feet.

Among our species of the true Sharks we have Yu tenggiri (Galeocerdo rayneri) which attains a length of over 12 feet and is very ferocious, but fortunately rather rare, and the Yu jerong or Yu sambaran (Carcharias sp.) which has also a bad reputation.

The Hammer-head Sharks Yu bengkong, Yu sanggul or Yu palang are voracious, usually live in deep water and grow to a length of 15 feet.

There is no scientific record of the appearance of in these waters. Sharks of this family are probably the largest known and are said to exceed 50 feet in length (some writers mention 70 feet), but to be quite harmless. Specimens have been seen or captured in the neighbourhood of Ceylon, and on one occasion I watched a very large shark, in clear water, near Nipah Bay, Tioman Island, for more than half an hour, which appeared to equal the length of my yacht (35 feet).

The economic value of sharks has not yet been fully realised. Fishermen regard them as a nuisance as they tear nets and take fish off their hooks, and they are avoided as much as possible. Incidentally sharks are a nuisance to trawl-fishermen in Australia, and if there is any delay in getting the "cod-end" containing the fish on board, the sharks will bite pieces out of it. There is however every indication that shark-leather will soon be an ordinary trade commodity. The skin of sharks is composed of two layers: