THE <iAME FISHES OF THE PERSIAN GULF. 733 



that this species is rare at Jask, but the local tishenneii gave it as their 

 opinion that it attains a maximum weight of about 25 lbs. 



The surface-feeders of the family Carangidoe are represented in the 

 Persian Gulf by a second genus, viz., 



OHOKINEMUS. 



Day divides this genus into five individual species of which three abound 

 in the waters round Jask. Of these three species one stands out promi- 

 nently and bears the local name of 



Sakax. Chnrmeiiiw^ lipan. 

 Desokiption — 

 Weight. ~\%l lbs. 

 length. — -3 ft. 7^ inches. 

 Girth. — 21 f inches. 

 Spread of Tail. — 11^ inches. 



Head. — The curve of the median longitudinal ridge is very much flatter 

 than in that of the genus Caran.v. 



Body. — Is much compressed and the mouth though capacious is not very 

 broad but the cleft is deep hence it is far more often than otherwise that 

 the bait is seized sideways instead of tail-first. 



Teeth. — Both upper and lower jaws are provided with villiform teeth ; 

 which also extend on to the vomer, palatines and tongue, and they are 

 also present on the gullet both above and below. 

 Eye. — Large. 



Fins. — The anterior dorsal is absent, but in its place are five short thick 

 spines well spaced. 



Posterior dorsal. — Anterior part is well elevated ; it is continued towards 

 the tail by a fringe of semi-detached unlets. 



Anal. — Is the exact counterpart of the posterior dorsal. 

 Caudal. — Deeply forked. 



Anus. — Is situated about half way between termination of pelvic and 

 commencement of anal fins. 



Colour. — The back is steely -blue to green, flanks and belly are silvery. 

 On the sides are five steely blue to grey blotches about the size of a rupee 

 spaced at regular intervals from gills along lateral line, which frequently 

 intersects the first two marks. There is a black patch in the pectoral fin-pit. 

 After death a change in colour appears quickly. The blotches on the sides 

 become intensified, the sheen dulls down, and the belly and sometimes the 

 gill plates become splashed with lemon yellow. 



Skin. — The skin is thick and covered with small scales. 

 Remarks. — Day under the heading •' colours ' makes the following 

 o b servation : — 



" Six to eight large, round grey spots like finger marks on the sides." 

 It is possible that the number of spots varies with individual fish, or it 

 may be that the posterior ones fade when maturity is reached. The writer 

 has heard the Saran referred to as the "five-fingered Jack ", and this 

 appellation seems most appropriate. 



Let U3 proceed to a short review of the habits of the Saran and of his 

 qualifications for inclusion in the category of game-fish. 



Of all the surface feeders that populate the waters of Jask the Saran is by 

 far the most numerous . There is hardly a season of the year in which he is 

 not seen, if not actually felt at the end of the split-cane ; but from March to 

 September his numbers would outvie those of a swarm of locusts. If the exile 

 at Jask stands on the western shore of the promontory and watches the curl of 

 the bottle-green wave, an instant or two before it takes the final plunge he will 

 probably see a Saran (or as many as five or six) flash into the centre of the 



