128 The Philippine Journal of Science 1919 
part of the year it is found in the fresh water of lakes and 
rivers. At certain seasons it descends to the sea to spawn, 
probably about the month of June, for the young ipon make 
their first appearance along the coast during September, rarely 
in August. . 
According to substantiated report the young arrive near the 
coast nine days after the first full moon in each month from 
September until February. Fishing begins along the coast as 
soon as the fish are sighted, in water from 2 to 10 meters deep. 
The sea catch is of superior quality and brings the highest 
prices. However, shore fishing is profitable for only three days, 
because during these three days the fish have entered the river 
and may be caught by nets and traps. The river fishing lasts 
several days after the shore fishing has ceased to be profitable. 
The value of the fresh-water catch quickly diminishes. The 
fresh water has a tendency to turn the living fish dark, and as 
the flesh darkens it acquires a somewhat bitter taste. The fish 
when full grown has a fair flavor and when fried crisp is quite 
palatable. After a few days the river catch has lost entirely 
its commercial value, and the fishermen await the next monthly 
run. The number of adults captured for food is negligible. 
The two most important methods of taking the fish are by 
means of a special net, known as daclis de ipon, and a small trap, 
known locally as sarep. The former is the more important. It 
is a large affair, averaging 60 to 100 meters in length and 8 to 
12 meters in.depth. It is composed of many pieces of abacaé or 
maguey cloth sewn together lengthwise and resembles a huge 
piece of patchwork, varying in shade from yellow to brown. 
Brails are attached at the ends; the tops are well corked; the 
bottoms are leaded heavily, and the leads are concealed by several 
long ropes running lengthwise and securely fastened together. 
These ropes seem to prevent the bottom of the net from becoming 
readily entangled with objects on the sea bottom. The net is 
used near the river mouth in water as deep as 12 or 14 meters. 
During a run of the ipon, a good haul will often bring in as 
many as 10 cavans;* the usual haul is less. 
From January 1 to November 1, 1916, the town of Caoayan 
lying at the mouth of the river, licensed one hundred thirty-six 
of these nets, daclis de ipon (or chinchorros para ipon, as desig- 
nated on the tax ordinance). Each net of this type is taxed 
annually 10 pesos,* thereby bringing to the tax income of the 
* One cavan equals 75 liters. 
*One peso Philippine currency equals 50 cents United States currency. 
