266 On the Food-Fishes of the Liao Basin. 



wise dui-ing winter the following are imported from the 

 Songari : — 



Acipenser mantschvricus (" 'huang yu ") . — This fisli fur- 

 nishes " caviare " more suitable to Russian low temperatures 

 and gastric capabilities than to the ordinary resident at treaty 

 ports. The flesh of the sturgeon is very palatable, but 

 unsuitable to persons witli weak digestion. 



" White Fish " (length 18 inches and upwards) comes to 

 Newchwang from the Songari via Mukden, where it is known 

 by foreign residents under that name — probably a translation 

 from tlie Chinese words " pai yu." This tish is of excellent 

 quality and flavour, approacliing in these respects to the 

 famous " Sam lai " imported here from Shanghai, and stated 

 by Richardson (Iclithyol. China, p. 305) to be Alosa Lieevesii 

 and A. palasnh. 



Salmo, sp. ? — The Salmonoid imported in late autumn to 

 Newchwang by steamers from the Amur is probably identical 

 with that found in the lower Songari ; it is known to ascend 

 the Songari as far as San-sing near lat. 47° N. In the Hurka, 

 a tributary which joins the Songari at San-sing, travellers 

 describe its capture during the spawning-season in immense 

 numbers. There its name is Ta-ma-lia. It forms the 

 staple supply of food, and yields oil and clothing for the Ya- 

 pi-Ta-tzu, or Fish-skin Tartars. These Salmonoids show 

 a remarkable uniformity in size, the average weight being 

 10 lbs. There are two large teeth in each jaw. The colour 

 (while spawning) is darker and lacks the silvery lustre 

 of Sahno salar. The sides are marked with extensive pink 

 patches. 



SalmOj sp. — Mollcndoiff (Verteb. of Chili, in Journ. N.C. B. 

 Roy. As. Soc. 1877, p. 107) states that he had not been able 

 himself to discover a specimen of Salmonidre in Chili, A 

 specimen was brought to him, however, by a friend from a 

 locality about 150 miles north of Pekin, where they were 

 stated to exist in abundance, and were procurable up to 

 1^ feet in length. The specimen was young and not very 

 well preserved, but was that of an undoubted trout. Tiie 

 colour was reddish grey with small black spots. This fish 

 did not agree with a/iy European S[)ecies, and was believed 

 to come from an affluent of the Luan River. Chinese name 

 ^hua-yuj i. e. spotted fish. 



