MALAYAN FISHES. 9 
“ The migration is not merely inshore and offshore, but is 
at the same time in a definite direction with respect to the 
coast. 
“Thus the life of the fish is spent until in from three to 
six years at the most, the call of maturity comes. In response 
thereto a migration takes place which appears to be usually 
beyond the limits of the seasonal migrations of the school.”? 
A few moments’ consideration will enable one to realise that the 
life habits of every species of fish are subject to certain fixed laws. 
It is only a matter of systematic organised research to discover 
those laws and to apply. the knowledge to the development of 
Malayan Fisheries. 
We can learn what has been done in Canada, Great Britain and 
the United States, but this general learning must be supplemented 
by detailed local research. We must work out our own local tables. 
There are, probably, no less than 2000 species of fish in 
Malayan waters. There are certainly not less than 500 species of 
economic importance, and if we take 250 species as being valuable 
Marine food fishes, some idea may be formed of the amount of 
research required before we shall be in a position to state definitely 
where a certain species may be found in full roe, where its spawning 
erounds are, where the recruiting grounds of its young are and 
when and where it travels during its seasonal migrations. 
Information of this kind will enable our fishermen to catch fish 
in the best condition and in the greatest quantities and this is the 
information which the Fishery Departments of Canada and America 
give the fishermen, even to the extent of using aeroplanes, fitted 
with wireless, to locate shoals and disseminate information. 
There is a great deal of knowledge, of which no use is being 
made, in the possession of many illiterate Malay fishermen, spread 
over wide areas, all along the coasts of Malaya. This knowledge 
should be collected and tabulated. 
The Departments of Fisheries in Ceylon, Australia, India, 
the Netherlands Indies and the Philippines have published records. 
dealing with the fishes which also inhabit our seas and, in con- 
sequence, the Fishery Officers and scientists have the benefit of a 
vast amount of scientific research work on which to build up local 
data. 
Though the question of damage to our marine fisheries has 
evoked some attention during the past two years, it is doubtful 
whether serious thought has been given to the terrible damage done 
to the fresh water fisheries by mining silt. Engineers have fought 
for their roads and railways against the invading silt, but, to judge 
from official reports, no one has fought for the fisheries and the 
need for protection of the riverine rights of the people would appear 
to have passed unnoticed. 
1 Meek, Migrations of Fish. 
