324 PISHES AND FISHING. 



ends ; mouth, small, obtuse, not protractile ; external 

 teeth, broad, trenchant ; scales, minute. Head, olive 

 green, with a flash of gold ; body, silvery, with eight 

 to ten longitudinal golden stripes ; iris, yellow ; a 

 black speck at the base of the pectoral fin. Length, 

 twelve inches or more. 



The fish feeds only on alga, and is caught prin 

 cipally in localities where there is an abundance of 

 sea- weed. Amongst the latter, the Ecklonia Buc- 

 cinalis (Leelamboes), and our large Sargassa (S. longi- 

 folium and S. wtegrifolium), are its usual haunts, and 

 hence the vernacular name of lamboo-fish. On 

 account of its vegetable nourishment, it exhibits at 

 times a particular smell, when embowelled, and is for 

 that reason called stink-jtih by some of the fishermen. 

 It is a rich and delicate fish, and though scarce on the 

 Cape Town market, is common in Saldanha Bay, 

 where it is salted and dried for home consumption. 



SQUAMIPENNES. 



23. PIMEIEPTEOTS Fuscus. Cuv. and Yal. (Bastard 

 Jacob Evertson.) Body, oblong, bulky ; head, small ; 

 snout, obtuse ; teeth, strong, cutting, singularly 

 ranged in one row ; eyes, large, protruding ; fins, 

 thick, covered by scales, whence the scientific name 

 (fat-fin). Two dorsal fins, united at base. * Length, 

 two feet. 



