198 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



every year, people come from far and near to witness the catching 

 of a huge (?) fish locally designated Pla Biik (daifin). Interference 



with the creature at any other time of the year, is said to bring 

 terrible misfortune upon the offender. 



The iish are stated to frequent the whole length of the 

 Mekong river up to this point, as well as being found at the mouth. 

 They are about. 12 ft. in length, and 8 to 10 ft. in girth, have smooth 

 black skins and are scaleless. Their heads are blunt and toothless. 

 The females have a pair of mammae. When caught their stomachs 

 are never found to contain anything but stones. 



The fish are seen rising and ascending the river, when their 

 capture, is attempted. Only particular, and specially skilled jDeople, 

 are allowed to indulge in this business. Boats proceed up stream 

 with huge seine nets, and drop them so that they extend to a great 

 depth, across a narrow defile of the river above where the fish have 

 been seen. These as they ascend charge into the nets and are caught 

 by their gills. It is said that they make no attempt to turn and go 

 down stream. The fishermen come up and guide them ashore, where 

 they are tethered in the water by their- gills until sold. Great care 

 and skill has to be exercised in catching the fish when enmeshed, as 

 the overturning of a boat is apt to lead to fatal results, owing to 

 the strong undercurrent. 



A curious part of the ceremony is that, on peril of the greatest 

 misfortune, those engaged must keep up a continual flow of abuse. 



The fish is said to be very powerful, and it is alleged that 

 purchasers living upstream utilise; them to tow their boats home. The 

 live fish sells for Tcs. 200—240. The Lao chief of Vien Chan collects 

 a fee of Tcs. 10 per fish caught, for charges incurred in propitiating the 

 guardian spirit of the river. The retail price is Tic. 1 per catty. The 

 flesh is much prized, and is eagerly consumed by the Laos, who be- 

 lieve it brings good luck and success in trading. 



As I have not myself seen the creature, I should be glad of 

 any further information readers of this Journal may have, or any 

 suiTirestion as to the nature of this so-called fish. 



A. H. Duke. 

 October, 1920. 



JOUKN. NAT. HIST. SOU. SUM. 



