

280 FISHES 0/ 



Clupeidae are Clupea palasah, called the hilsa, which ascends 

 all the large rivers in great abundance to spawn, and C. neohowii. 

 the oil sardine, which does not enter rivers. Species of other 

 genera of Clupeidae are common : Pel/ona, Opisthopterus, En- 

 graulis or anchovy, and CJiatoessus ; the dorab, Chirocentrus 

 dorab, is an allied species. Elops and Megalops, family Elopidse, 

 or tarpons, also occur. Members of the eel families Anguillidae 

 and Muraenidae are numerous, but Muraenesox, which grows to 

 ten feet in length, is the only one that is eaten. Gadidae are 

 absent, but Pleuronectidae are numerous and valuable, especially 

 Pseudorhombns, resembling the turbot, and Cynoglossus and 

 Symphura which represent the Soles. One of the Scopelida:, 

 Harpodon nehereus, is numerous on the Bombay coast and 

 common in Bengal and Burma : it is dried and in that state 

 known as Bombay duck. Of Acanthopterygii Day enumerates 

 616 species. The Indian mackerel, Scomber kanaquita, is 

 abundant and Thynnus pelamys, the bonito, is common. Of 

 Serranidae or sea-perches the principal are Sen-anus horridus 

 and S. coiodes, the latter four to five feet long, and Mesoprion. 

 Chaetodontidae are numerous, as in all tropical seas ; the com- 

 monest are Chaetodon, Chelmo, Ephippus, noted for an enormous 

 spherical bony mass on the back of the head, Holacajithus, 

 HeniocJius and Drepane ; the last two are eaten ; ScatopJiagus 

 enters river mouths and, as its name (meaning dung-eater) implies, 

 feeds on refuse. Mullidse are numerous but are not prized like 

 the red mullet of Europe ; they are small species of the genera 

 Upeneus and Upeneoides. Of Sparidae or sea-breams there are 

 numerous species of Sargus, Lethrinus and Pimelepterus, but 

 the most plentiful and valuable is Pagrus. Species of the 

 herbivorous Tenth's occur in vast numbers and are salted and 

 dried. Maigres (Sciaenidae), hair-tails (Trichiuridae) are used 

 as food and also sword-fishes (Xiphiidae). Of the Percesoces, 

 Spkyraena, the barracudas, are large and numerous ; Polynemi- 

 dae, remarkable for their long free pectoral rays, reach a very large 

 size and are among the most valuable fishes in the market ; Poly- 

 nesia tern is often seen in the Calcutta market six feet long, it is 

 known as the mangoe fish and swarms into estuaries. Sand- 

 smelts (Atherinidae) and the grey mullets (Mugilidse) are also 

 abundant. Sharks and skates are captured for their fins which 

 are exported to China, and for the oil from their livers. Electric 



