158 



MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN 



VOL. XV, 



Barracuda {Sphyraena jello and 5. commersonii) the Ula, is said 

 to be good eating though some believe the ripe females and 

 the roe to be poisonous. This perhaps accounts for the absence 

 of these fish from the markets during the cold months when they 

 breed. They are available for sale from January to August, the 

 best month being July. 



Soles are prime fish. Psettodeserumei (Erumai nakku), the largest 

 fiat fish of Madras, and Pseudorhombwi arsius (Nakku) are 

 common and valuable food fishes. Other soles seen in the markets 

 are Cynoglossus lingua (Vari Allu), Plagusia marmorata (Nedu Nakku), 

 Synaptura cornuta (Vari Allu) and 5. commersoniana (Nakku). 

 Synaptura is not esteemed as food in Madras. Soles were sold all 

 the year round, the best months being August and September. 



Ophiocephalus, the Murrel, is a valuable freshwater food fish. 

 Three species are sold here, O. striaius and 0. punctatus (Viral) and 

 O. gachua (Koravai). 



Murrel is available throughout the year, but the best months are 

 May, August and September. 



