THE GAME FI^JIE^ OF THE PERSIAN GULF. 133 



Bl-ACH. 



The bi-ach (the "ch" being pronounced as in "loch") attains a maximum 

 weight of about 4 lbs., bat the smaller specimens up to 10 inches in length 

 are suitable for bait. The bi-ach can be recognised by its broader and 

 flatter head, and by the absence of the gold on the iris ; its scales also 

 difl'er from those of the bo-i being larger and coarser. 



Pitt. 



This species of mullet is probably Miajil icaitjiensis and would grow to 

 10 lbs. at least in weight. One specimen of 7 lbs. was weighed and ex- 

 amined, and its measurements are quoted as such may prove of technical 

 interest. 



Lem/t/i.—'J ft. 



Girth. — 14 inches. 



In general colour the mature pitt is India-rubbery on back and sides, 

 belly dull white and the pectoral is black. In the fry, however, the tone is 

 much more silvery and the sides are marked with bands longitudinally. 

 For purposes of bait however fish over 10 inches in length should be 

 discarded. 



TIR-MUKNA. 



Occasionally the tir-mukna is taken in the cast net of the bait-catcher in 

 company with the mullets and when, the angler can count one among his 

 baits he may consider himself in luck's way. This fish is the " milk-fish " 

 or " white mullet" of the Europeans in South Canara — family, Clupeidce ; 

 species, Chcmos sabnoneus. The habits of this species are most remark- 

 able. At certain seasons of the year the waters of the Persian 

 Gulf are covered by extensive patches of a brick-red scum, about the 

 origin of which there are several theories. In this scum shoals of large 

 tir-muknas, up to 15 or 20 lbs. in weight, are frequently observed. 

 On many occasions they were watched most carefully by the writer 

 at close quarters from his dinghy. They swim about with their backs above 

 water, and mouths \vide open. It was a most striking phenomenon to see 

 a wide-spread pair of cherry lips suddenly appear above the surface ; 

 in fact at times the apparition was quite uncanny. One can readily 

 imagine how the mariners' tales of mermaids may have received their 

 origin ! 



MORAN. 



In the early pages of this paper the moran received cursory attention, 

 and a promise was given that a description would be recorded in due 

 course. Appended is the geneological tree of the moran ; family, Scom- 

 bresocidce ; genus, Hemirhamphus. In .Task waters two individual species 

 are met with, i-iz., Hemirhamphus (jeoryii and Hemirhamphtis far. Both 

 species are somewhat similar in appearance, but H. far is deeper and is 

 marked with 4 vertical black blotches on its sides which do not extend 

 below the lateral bar ; moreover in H. far the upper lobe of the caudal is 

 bright yellow which characteristic is absent in H. (jeoryii. H. far is solely 

 a cold weather visitant ; it vanishes with the advent of H. (jeoryii to spawn 

 in March. The conformation of the moran is unmistakable. The body 

 is elongated and cylindrical and a longitudinal bar like quick-silver runs 

 from gills to tail. The lower jaw of the moran is prolonged into a mandible 

 very similar to that of a jack snipe. When some dozen specimens of a 

 single variety of fish are used daily as bait for six months continuous 

 fishing it must be acknowledged that a wide scope for observation has been 

 acquired. At first the function of this mandible was not apparent, but 



