MALAYAN FISHES. 35 
GRUNTERS. 
(PRISTIPOMATIDAE.) 
This family contains about 130 species belonging to four 
genera, of which three gencra inhabit our waters, viz. Pristupoma 
(Gérut-gérut), Diagramma (Tebal bibir) and Pentapus (Sélin- 
ching). 
The Gérut-gérut are good food fishes and take a bait readily. 
They are fond of back waters and one species (P. guoraca) is said 
to have been captured in fresh water. 
I have taken several in brackish water and found them, when 
freshly cooked, excellent eating. 
Our largest species (P. hasta) attains a length of about 18 
inches and is known in Australian waters as the Queensland Trum- 
peter. Of this fish Stead writes, “ The Australian home of this 
magnificent food-fish is principally along the coast of Queensland 
where it is well and favourably known.” 
The names Geérut-gérut and Trumpeter are descriptive 
of the grunting noise the fish makes after capture. 
The Tebal bibir are also good edible fish and attain a length 
of two feet or more. 
I have no personal knowledge of the Sélinching (Pentapus) 
and place it here from a description supplied to me, together with 
a pocket-kodak snap-shot which does not display the fish very well. 
SEA-BREAMS. 
(SPARIDAB.) 
This, again, is an important family which includes many 
varieties of valuable food fishes. Some are carnivorous. 
Following Dr. G. A. Boulenger’s classification, the principal 
genera found in Malayan waters are Scolopsis, Synagris, Caesw, 
Crenidens, Lethrinus and Sparus. 
Of the Gérétak lantei (Scolopsis spp.) of Singapore, so 
called from the parallel bands which distinguish most species, U 
ean say little. The only species of Scolopsis with which I am 
familiar are the Anjang-anjang and Kérisi bali, which are occa- 
sionally taken when fishing for Kérisi. 
The Kérisi (Synagris spp.) are beautiful little fish of a 
roseate hue with yellow and silvery bands. They are very common 
all up the east coast where they can be taken with a line, practically 
anywhere, in fairly deep water on a sandy bottom. 
They average perhaps five or six to the pound but I have 
taken them up to a pound or more in 30 fathoms near Tioman 
Island. Kérisi fishing is, or used to be, the favourite out-door 
sport of the Malay Princesses of Pahang, and during the S. W. 
Monsoon regular expeditions were made to the Kérisi grounds and 
