368 ON TIIE CLUPEID.E OF AUSTRALIA, 



they are highly valued for their delicate flavour when fried. In 

 Java, Sumatra, and the Straits of Malacca, large quantities are 

 preserved both for home consunption and exportation to India 

 and China. The delicious condiment is famed under the 

 denomination of "roode vischjes " or " Red Fish " flhan Merah of 

 the Malays) and is used as a relish. The following mode of 

 preparation, as practised at Bencoolen and Malacca, has been 

 communicated by W. J. Lewis Esq., Ass. Bes. Counsellor, Penang. 

 "After the heads have been removed, the Fishes (those of middling 

 size are preferred,) are cleansed, salted (in the proportion of one 

 to eight parts of Fish), and deposited in flat glazed earthern 

 vessels. In the latter they are for three days submitted to 

 pressure by means of stones placed on thin boards or dried 

 plantain leaves. The Fishes are next freed from salt, and 

 saturated with vinegar of Cocoa-palm toddy, after which are 

 added powdered ginger and black pepper (the latter mostly 

 entire), and some brandy and powdered " Bed Bice." After 

 having been kept for three days, a little more vinegar is added 

 before placing the fishes in well-closed jars or bottles. They 

 should be kept four or five months before being used. The 

 expense of a quart bottle of this condiment is about 30 cents, 

 the selling price one Spanish dollar. ' ' Eed Eice ' ' is the variety of 

 Oryza sativa, called glutinosa, steeped in an infusion of Cochineal." 

 This is the most important of the Anchovies of India and 

 Malacca, but there are in these seas several other species all 

 highly prized as food by the natives of the country. 



3. Chatoessus Ereei, Gunther. 

 Cat. Fish, Yol. 7, p. 407, Chatoessus come, Bichards, Voy. Ereb. 

 and Ferror, p. 62, pi. 38, fig. 7—10. 

 The following is Dr. Gunther' s description of this species : — 

 "B. 5. D. 14. A. 21. L. lat. 45— 49. L. transv. 17— 21. The 

 dorsal filament reaches to the end of the anal fin, or to the caudal. 

 Scales not deciduous. The height of the body is contained twice 

 and one-fifth in the total length (without caudal), the length of 



