36 BULLETIN 18 8, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



constitute the principal animal food of a large part of the interior 

 population and are essential in maintaining a properly balanced diet. 



It is hardly an exaggeration to state that in every household in 

 Thailand some kind ot fresh-water fish — whether fresh, dried, or 

 smoked — is eaten every day. 



Certain fresh-water fishes are among the staple foods of the country, 

 and are often the only source of animal nitrogenous material consumed 

 by millions of people. Outstanding among these fishes in popularity 

 and in quantity utilized are the serpenthead phicephalus sti'iatus^ 

 the anabantids Trichogaster pectoralis and Anahas testudineus ; 

 the catfishes Clarias^ Krytofterus^ Mystus^ and Pangasius, and 

 the featherback Notopterus notopterus. 



The solicitude of the government regarding the perpetuation of the 

 supply of interior fishes is keen. With the killing of other animals 

 coming within the interdiction of the national religion. Buddhism, 

 there is nothing to replace the fishes as sources of nitrogenous food. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 



In the preparation of this catalog the author has been greatly aided 

 by the hearty cooperation and assistance in field and office, by valuable 

 information supplied, and by fish specimens collected by his former as- 

 sociates in the Thailand fishery service — a service that began as a de- 

 partment of the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, later became a 

 well-organized bureau, and now is rated as a division in the Ministry 

 of Agriculture. Those to whom special acknowledgments are due are 

 Boon Chuay Indrambarya, the head of the service; Luang Masya 

 Chitrakarn, Luang Praserth Aksorn, Luang Anantamasya Pithaks, 

 Nai Chote Suvatti, Thavil Vongtongmark, and Pongse Phinthoyothin. 



In other branches of the Siamese Government various officials 

 showed practical interest in the work of the fishery service by facilitat- 

 ing transportation of field parties, by detailing assistants to make col- 

 lections of local fishes, and by other aid both official and personal. 

 Among those who were thus very useful and who directly or indirectly 

 contributed information and specimens that have added to the com- 

 pleteness of this catalog are Phya Jolamark Bicharana, former direc- 

 tor-general of the department of irrigation ; Phya Daruphan Pithaks, 

 chief conservator of forests ; Phya Winit Wanandorn, Phya Phananu- 

 chorn, and Phya Anuwatti, officers of the forest service. 



The author is under special obligations to the late Mom Eajawongse 

 Yai Sanitwongse who was unceasing in supplying information, col- 

 lecting specimens, and providing means for extending knowledge of 

 the local fish fauna. 



