1865.] MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 21 
first along the lower third of the body; subsequently it descends 
lower. 
Colours. Silvery white, with a slight pinkish tinge; back a little 
the darkest. The first three or four dorsal spines have a black spot 
upon them ; a line of greenish black, in very fine dots, extends along 
the upper third of the dorsal in its whole extent. Tail with a black 
margin. yes silvery. Tongue smooth, and of a golden tinge. 
Pectoral greyish yellow. Skin diaphanous. 
Not rare at Cochin. 
ScoMBER KANAGURTA, Cuv. & Val. 
Ila (Mal.). Indian Mackerel. 
Bove 2p Oy. P21.” Vi. 1/5.) Ash iy -C.:25: 
Length of specimen 7%; inches. 
These fish, which average about 73 inches in length, are captured 
in enormous quantities from January until May. Although very 
excellent eating, they are not often brought to the tables of Euro- 
peans, as they are reputed to be rather bitter; therefore those cap- 
tured are commonly salted, dried in the sun, and exported in bundles 
of about 1000 each to Ceylon, where they are extensively bought for 
the coolies in the coffee-plantations. 
Many Ceylonese come over for the Mackerel season. Thousands 
of these fish are frequently landed daily and salted. The first pro- 
cess consists in a coolie making one cut with a sharp knife along their 
back-bone, from the head to the tail, and then a second down their 
ventral surface, exposing their intestines. They are then tossed over 
to a woman, who, having removed their insides, throws them into a 
basket having two handles, which, when half full, is carried by two 
men to the sea-shore, where the fish are washed without being re- 
moved. Women and children rapidly put some black salt into each 
cut, and throw the fish into a boat close behind them (on the shore), 
in which there is brine ; there they remain for a few hours, and are 
subsequently spread out in the sun, dried, and packed in square 
bundles of about 1000 each for export. 
Cysium GuTtatum, Bl., Schn. 
Arrakeeah (Mal.). Seir-fish. 
B. vii. D.16/20ix. P.15. V.1/5. A. 20 viii. C. 26. 
Length of specimen 23 inches. 
The Seir-fish abound off Cochin, where they are captured from 
October throughout the whole of the cold months. They are ex- 
cellent eating, but should be cooked when quite fresh. They salt 
well, besides being amongst the best fish for ‘Tamarind-fish. Large 
ones are rather coarse for eating. 
Cysrum commErsonut, Lacép. 
Chumbum (Mal.). 
B. vi. D.16 Six, P. 20. V.1/3.. A. 2/16x. 
Length of specimen 12 inches. 
