Some of Our Food Fishes. 47 



A class of fishes is known as fresh-water mullets (Hemiodus notatus, 

 &c), also banded fishes called kibihi from the bands resembling the tail 

 of that mammal (Anostomus fasciatus and Leporinus fasciatus). These 

 are very useful fishes, about the size of small herrings. 



Anyone who has watched the tide coming in must have noticed the 

 shoals of four-eyes (Anableps) and perhaps wondered why some of them 

 are not caught by the fishermen. There seems to be no reason for 

 neglecting them except the prejudice against them as gross feeders. 

 Possibly they might be salted like pilchards and become a valuable 

 addition to the food supply. Being the only fish of any size to aggregate 

 in vast numbers, it would certainly be worth while to make an experi- 

 ment. These fishes are not only common on the sea-shore but they are 

 found at long distances up the rivers. 



A very large class of small fishes may be compared to sprats. Most 

 of them are known under the name of Silver-bait, corrupted into Sillibay. 

 The larger are species of Tetragonopterus and Charax and form an 

 addition to the food supply. Sometimes they are dried and possibly 

 they could be put up as sardines. 



Coming now to the skin fishes, the most important is the gilbacker, 

 which is not only valuable for food but also for the isinolass or fish olue 

 which is of importance as an item in our exports. The question of what 

 is the gilbacker has given me some trouble ; it is supposed to be 

 Sciadeichthys parkeri but I am inclined to think that several allied 

 species also produce the isinglass. The gilbacker of the market is known 

 also as kokwarri and is very much liked by those not prejudiced against 

 skin fishes. 



A fair number of skin fishes are to be found in the market under the 

 names of cuirass, kossi, kakanettes, milk fish, tampoco, twee-twee and 

 cat-fish. Most of them are considered inferior to the best fishes and are 

 sold cheap, but judging from the small stocks left on hand there is no 

 difficulty in finding purchasers. That the prejudice against them is un- 

 founded is quite certain and it would be well if our people could be a 

 little more reasonable in their likes and dislikes, instead of being governed 

 by " kinnas. r ' 



The name cuirass suggests that the armour-plate behind the head 

 was noticed at the time when armour was worn. The name is general 

 rather than particular for many of the Siluridae have such plates and I 

 have had different fishes pointed out as cuirass, including that the head 

 and back plate of which is compared to a crucifix and sold as a curio. 

 This is Sciadeichthys proops, which is, probably when full-grown, called 

 gilbacker. 



The low-low (Brachyplatystoma vaillanti) is a skin fish as large as the 

 gilbacker attaining ten or twelve feet in length. The flesh is said to be 

 firm and comparable to veal ; it is much relished in the upper river dis- 



