76 



MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN 



VOL. XIV, 



open their mouths invitingly to the " Four-eyes " that these may 

 search within for any parasites that may be there. 



The Jew fishes or Sciacnida2 (Tam. Kathdlai) are usually 

 represented here by several species. They are amongst the most 

 important Indian fishes of economic value ; on the West Coast 

 (where they are called Kara) they are caught in great quantity ; 

 around Madras smaller species abound and it is a curious fact that 



Fig. 12. — Jew fisli i^Sciadiia iiiilcs), X \ 



while the large species are excellent eating, tlie small are soft- 

 fleshed and insipid. The swim-bladders obtained from large Jew- 

 fishes are dried and exported as "fish-maws" or "sounds." for 

 conversion into isinglass. 



Various other sea-perches are present from time to time ; to 

 enumerate them here would be tiresome and of little or of no 

 service, as a coloured and named figure of each will be found in 

 the frame along the upper edge of the tank. 



TANK No. 7. 



This tank is largely appropriated to a fine show of that 

 magnificently ornate creature, Russell's Scorpicn fish {Ptcrois 

 nisselli, Tam. Tlmmbimiu), so named in honour of Dr. Russell, the 

 first Englishman to make a scientific study of Indian fishes.* In 

 some ways this is the most interesting and striking fish in the 

 Aquarium. The fins have attained a size far beyond anything 



* Whcu slalioned at VizagapaUm he made an extensive collection and in 1S03 the 

 East India Company published his descriptions of 20Q of these, under the title Fishes 

 Jroni the Coast, of Coromaiidel. 



