138 



BULLETIN 18 8, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



During the dry season the fish is found in the river as far up as Ban 

 Sarahet, which in the flood season is 5 days by poling boat or 16 hours 

 by motor launch from Petchaburi. The adult fish descend as the 

 floods come and go to the mouth of the river but not into the sea, re- 

 maining there 4 to 8 weeks. The fish then ascend the river and stay for 

 several months in the section above the town of Petchaburi, laying their 

 eggs in July near the mouths of small branches up which the young 

 subsequently go. Other streams in which tlie fish has been collected 

 for the Siamese Bureau of Fisheries are the Tapi, in the Peninsula, and 

 the Meping at Chiengdao, in the Northern district. The British Mu- 

 seum contains an adult specimen collected in the Mewang in Central 

 Siam, by Arthur S. Vernay. Hora doubtfully referred to this species 

 the skin of a fish several feet long from the inner lake of the Tale 

 Sap. 



Figure 16. — Tor tambroides (Bleeker). Drawn by Luang Masya; courtesy of the 



Thailand Government. 



The fish reaches a length of 70 cm. in the East Indies. The largest 

 reported in Thailand have been about 50 cm. long, and the largest 

 examined by the present writer have been 35 cm. long. 



The flavor of the flesh of this fish is delicious and superior to that 

 of any other fish known to the people on Petchaburi River. The sup- 

 ply is very limited, and in recent years not more than 20 adult fish 

 have been caught annually at Petchaburi. The largest fish are reputed 

 to have the best flavor, and the price obtained by the fishermen has 

 been 6 to 8 ticals (about $2.40 to $3.20) per fish. Fishing is done with 

 a line armed with small hooks baited with a cake made from the fruit 

 of the sugar palm mixed with rice flour ; this cake is prepared and used 

 only for this purpose. The large scales are sometimes eaten after 

 being cooked in boiling lard and rendered puffy. 



