MALAYAN FISHES. 43 
When freshly caught and cooked they are all excellent eating, 
but they do not keep well. 
The Chencharu is quite common and is found in large shoals. 
When in season, large numbers will be found in the markets and if 
quite fresh they are good edible fish. They are said to attain a 
length of 5 feet. 
All the Selar are good eating, but the fresher they are the 
better. They give good “sport with a light rod and small hook, to 
which a few small white feathers have been “ whipped.” 
They like shade and will be found in the neighbourhood of 
piers and under vessels. When cruising, I have often noticed 
Selar taking shelter under my yacht, when we were becalmed, and 
if the period coincided with a meal time, we used to catch as many 
as we wanted in a few minutes. 
There are, at times, large numbers of Sélar in shallow water 
off Singapore as, probably, many sea-side residents know. 
The Chermin (C. gallus) is a deep-bodied fish somewhat re- 
sembling the Dory in shape and is one of the best, if not the best, 
food fish in this family. It is found generally on reefs; takes a 
prawn or fish bait, and gives splendid sport as it fights very hard 
and takes a bit of playing. 
Specimens 2 feet in length are not uncommon and it is said 
to grow to five feet in length. It is known in Australia as the 
Silvery Moon-fish. 
The Nyior nyior (Trachynotus ovatus and T. bailloni) are 
known in Australia as the Dart. These fish must be fresh to be 
appreciated. 
The Talang (Chorinemus spp.) is a common fish in the 
markets and fairly popular with most Asiatics, but some Malays 
have a prejudice against it and will tell you that it gives them an 
irritating and disfiguring affection of the skin. 
It may be that the general appearance of these fish, all of which 
have a row of dark blotches along the side, may suggest the un- 
sightly blotches seen on the faces, bodies and limbs of natives who 
are afflieted with certain kinds of skin disease, kédal, sopak, ete. 
or that the consumption of this fish when not perfectly fresh causes 
urticaria, but the subject should be worth investigation. 
One local species of Talang (S. sancti-petri) is known also in 
Australia as the Queen-fish, and another (S. tooloo-parah) is known 
also in Phihppine waters as the Talang-talang. 
There are many other excellent food fish in this family in- 
cluding the Lembudek or Demudok, Gérépoh and Berkas, not 
specifically identified. 
The generic term by which the Caranz branch of this family is 
known to the Moros, in the Philippines, is Daing puti. The name 
Daing belang occurs locally and is applied to Caranx speciosus 
and C. compressus, 
