MALAYAN FISHES. 23: 
GAR-FISH, GAR-PIKE AND FLYING-FISH. 
(SCOMBRESOCIDAE.) 
Most of the members of this family, of which about 200 species 
are known, are marine: some are carnivorous, and others mainly 
herbivorous, feeding on green algae. Nearly all are in the habit of 
making great leaps out of the water, this tendency culminating in 
the Flying- fish (Hxocoetus), and there is every passage between 
the small pectoral fin of a Gar-fish and the swallow-iike “ wings ” oz 
the most developed Flying-fish. 
They are excellent edible fish and the Todak (Belone spp.) 
which have green bones are nevertheless very palatable and useful 
food fish. There is a more or less prevalent idea that fishes with 
ereen bones are poisonous; this is one of the popular fallacies 
which no facts or arguments will ever overcome. 
The Puput or Jénjulong (//emirhamphus spp.) or Half- 
beak can be easily identified by the fact that the lower jaw only is 
prolonged. Both jaws of the Todak are prolonged into a long 
slender beak. 
The Todak though common is a very shy and wily fish. It 
gives a boat a wide berth and though a rapid swimming and pre- 
dacious fish it disdains ordinary lures and baits. The Malay fisher- 
men, however, circumvent them by fishing with a kite from which 
dangles a length of fine line terminating in a noose. The bait is at- 
tached to the noose. Given a breeze sufficient to keep the kite flying, 
quite good sport is obtaimed, perhaps a dozen fish or more in an 
hour. The Todak makes a fierce dash at the bait, the noose tight- 
ens round the upper jaw, and the recurved teeth prevent the noose 
from slipping. 
The Puput is also a shy biter when it sees its would-be cap- 
tor at the other end of a rod or line, and the Malays consequently 
use short baited lines attached to floats (Pélontang puput) which 
they send adrift and pick wp when the movements of the float shew 
that a fish is firmly hooked. 
Flying-fishes are very good eating but not often obtained. I 
have picked them up on the deck after a squally night at sea. 
SAND-SMELTS. 
(ATHERINIDAE.) 
These pretty little fishes, called Rennyau or Paku in Malay, 
are common all along our coasts and also frequent estuaries and 
tidal rivers. ‘Seale’ writes: 
“Tt is almost impossible to land at any wharf or to go 
ashore on any beach without seeing these little fish in count- 
less numbers. They usually grow to a length of from 10 to 
12 centimeters. They have a greenish tint on the back and a 
bright silvery band on the des 
1 Fishery resources of the Philippines. 
