THE MILK-FISHES 



Family XII. Chanida 



BODY oblong, compressed, covered with small, firm, adherent 

 scales; lateral line distinct; abdomen broad and flattish; snout 

 depressed; mouth small, anterior, the lower jaw with a small 

 symphyseal tubercle; no teeth; eye with an adipose eyelid; gill- 

 membranes broadly united, free from the isthmus; branchioste- 

 gals 4; pseudobranchise well developed; an accessory branchial 

 organ in a cavity behind the gill cavity; dorsal fin opposite the 

 ventrals; anal shorter than the dorsal; mucous membrane of the 

 oesophagus raised into a spiral fold; intestine with many con- 

 volutions; colour silvery. 



The Awa or Milk-fish 



This genus contains 5 species, only one of which is found 

 in our waters. This is Chanos chanos, the milk-fish, or awa, a 

 fish of very wide distribution. ' It is found on most sandy shores 

 of the Pacific and Indian oceans. It is very abundant in the 

 Gulf of California and among the Hawaiian Islands, where it is 

 an important food-fish. In the Hawaiian Islands it is found with 

 the ama-ama, or mullet, in the artificial fish-ponds of the old 

 kings. The awa reaches a length of 2 to 5 feet. 



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