34 MALAYAN FISHES. 
JEW FISHES. 
(SCIAENIDAE.) 
About 150 species of this family are found in various parts 
of the world. Nearly all are of economic value, some being highly 
so, and many of them reach a very large size, 
The Témbéreh (Sciaena diacanthus) is one of the commonest 
coast and estuary fishes and perhaps the largest member of this 
family in our waters. It attains a length of at least 5 feet. 
The Gélama (Otolithus spp.) are among our commonest 
fishes. They travel in shoals numbering many thousands and are 
taken in deep water hauling nets (Pukat pétaram) by Trengganu 
and Kelantan fishermen. ‘hese fish are dried and salted on the 
East coast and thousands of pikuls are exported annually. 
The Gélama will take a bait but are hardly worth fishing for 
as they give no sport and are insipid table fish even when quite 
fresh. As “ikan kering ” with curry they are quite good, 
“ SILVER-BREAM.” 
(GERRIDAE.) 
These are small fish inhabiting all tropical seas and entering 
estuaries, 
According to Day these fishes are eaten by the indigent classes 
in India being little esteemed when fresh, but as they salt and dry 
well, large numbers are prepared in this manner for use. 
The family contains about sixty s species of which only six are 
mentioned in this work. Some 15 species are found in Australia 
and 23 in Indian waters. They rarely exceed a length of ten 
inches: nearly all have a plain silvery coloration. 
In America, the fishes of this family are known. as “ Mojarras.” 
The Kapas-kapas (Gerres sp.) will take a bait, preferably 
prawns or beach worms, and may be caught in the vacinity of fish- 
ing stakes (Kelong) as in and also near reefs. When freshly 
caught it will be found quite a pleasant table fish with compara- 
tively few bones. 
SELEMAH. 
(LACTARIIDAE.) 
The Sélémah is the sole member of this family and is not a 
fish of much economic importance. It grows to a length of about 
10 inches, and is eaten by the natives either fresh or salted but is 
said to be insipid. 
It appears in Malabar in shoals during the months of February 
and March. 
They enter the Straits during the N. E. monsoon but not in 
large numbers and I am informed by Malay fishermen that they 
rarely take more than half a dozen on any one dav. 
They do not take a bait but a few find their way into nets and 
traps. 
