324 FISHES AND FISHING. 



ends; month, 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 speek at the base of the pectoral fin. Length, 

 twelve inches or more. 



The fish feeds only on alg(E, and is caught prin- 

 cipally in localities where there is an abundance of 

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

 cinalis {Leebamhoes}, and our large Sargassa {S. longi- 

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

 hence the vernacular name of hamhoo-fish. On 

 account of its vegetable nourishment, it exhibits at 

 times a particular smell, when embowelled, and is for 

 that reason called siink-fish 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. Pjmeleptehtjs Fusctts. Cuv. and Yal. (Basta/rd 

 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. 



