WATERS OP WESTERN INDIA. 17 



chiefly on the surface) these fresh water herrings are not very 

 common in the Konkau. The Chelas, a genus of true Gyprinidae 

 which show considerable external resemblance to this family, take 

 their place. 



The Shads are auadromous, i.e., run up rivers to spawn, but the 

 Konkan streams are not big enough for them, and, besides, are very 

 often barred by weirs. We do not therefore often get the Shads 

 here " fresh-run, " that is, in that stage of gravidity in which they seek ■ 

 the fresh water to spawn, which is with them, as with the European 

 salmon aud sea-trout, the best condition for the table. It is pro- 

 bably for this reason that the " Palla" (Clnpea ilisha, the "Hilsa- 

 Ssh ' 5 and " Sable-fish 5 ' of other parts), is not very common here, 

 and but little esteemed. Another thing against it is that, like all 

 the family, it dies and decays quickly. Now the Bombay fish supply 

 is so organized that only fish which keep very well indeed (as the 

 pomflet) have any chance of getting to table while still fit to eat. 

 I have, however, occasionally got very tolerable *' Palla-fish 55 even in 

 Bon?.bay itself, and more often down the Coast. 



Some philosophers have maintained that this fish has given its 

 fiame to the C( Apollo ' 5 pier in Bombay, but there is this against 

 the derivation, that native fishermen do not call the place " Palla 

 Bandar' 5 but ' l Paid Bandar, 5 ' and don't connect the name with this 

 or any other fish. 



The allied marine species are very numerous. 



One worth noticing is the "Milk-fish or " Redi' 5 (Chanos 

 salmoneus) , much esteemed further south under the name of "White 

 mullet. 55 It has been successfully acclimatized in fresh water 

 tanks, and is a handsome fish, of good quality when fresh, running 

 to 3 feet long. 



We have two pretty common "sprats 55 or sardines, the oil 

 sardine (Glupea longiceps) and the rat-tailed sardines or " Mandils 55 

 (genus Coilia, several species). These come in great shoals in the 

 cold weather, and are extremely good eating when fresh, like 

 their European cousins. 



The way to get them and the mackerel is to have a net hauled on 

 the beach near one's quarters just before breakfast-time. If the 

 fish are an-shore at all at the time, the net is pretty sure to take 

 enough for a meal, and the fishermen are content with a few annas. 

 The two next families are small, and classed by some with the 

 herrings. The first " Chirocentridce/' contains one Indian sea-fish^ 



