FISHERY RESOURCES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 285 



per kilogram, the most abundant, perhaps, being small, black, slightly 

 roughened, cylindrical in shape, and when dry about 90 millimeters long 

 by 25 millimeters wide (Plate II, fig. 1). Another very common form 

 of this grade is the Philippine convoluted trepang, a large, light brown 

 species about 130 millimeters by 40 millimeters, cylindrical, with the 

 body, when dry, thrown into deep folds (See Plate II, fig. 5). Another 

 bark sim is a moderately roughened, cylindrical trepang of a dull yel- 

 lowish-brown color and 150 by 35 millimeters in size (Plate II, fig. 3). 

 Another is a dark brown, almost smooth form (when dry), with the back 

 covered with small orange spots with black centers. This is a large 

 species, 170 by 70 millimeters, and cylindrical in shape (Plate 4, fig. 4). 

 I will call this the smooth white-ringed trepang. Another form very 

 similar to the last I will term the rough white-ringed trepang. (Plate 

 II, fig. 2.) This trepang is 160 by 48 millimeters in size, cylindrical, 

 with the body decidedly tuberculate; it is rather dark brown in color 

 with numerous white circles around the large tubercules of the sides and 

 back. Another rather common trepang of the bark sim grade, is a small, 

 very black form, with deep wrinkles in the body (Plate II, fig. 6). This 

 variety when dry is cylindrical in shape and about 80 millimeters long 

 by 20 millimeters deep. I will call it the small black-wrinkled trepang. 



No. 4- — Moi T^Tiar Che (Plate I, fig. 4). This trepang is a large, 

 cylindrical black form, easily distinguished by the fact that the entire 

 back is covered with numerous, very long teats which are black or reddish 

 brown in color. This variety is quite abundant, but is regarded as fourth 

 rate as a food product, the price being from 30 to 50 centavos per 

 kilogram. I will term it the great prickly trepang. 



No. 5. — Hong Che (Plate I, fig. 5) is the fifth grade of trepang, and 

 resembles the last except that it is smaller and more cylindrical; the 

 teats are more pointed and slightly longer. Its wholsale price is from 

 35 to 45 centavos per kilogram. Many of the yoimg of the moi whar 

 che are to be seen in this class, but are distinguished easily by their 

 short teats. In size the hong che is from 50 to 90 millimeters in length 

 by 16 to 80 millimeters in width. 



There are numerous other grades among the 63 species of these animals 

 found in the Philippines, but none are of sufficient importance or value 

 to be recognized in trade. However, one very common form, called "yel- 

 low belly," is so abundant, especially about Mindoro, that is deserves at 

 least to be catalogued. This form when dry is yellow-white on the belly 

 and black on the back, about 60 millimeters in length and 35 in depth; 

 its value is not above 12 pesos ^ per picul. It is only the great abundance 

 of this grade that makes it worth our consideration. 



All of the above grades retail in Manila for fully 30 per cent advance 

 on the prices obtained by the fisherman. 



' One peso is equal to 50 cents United States currency, and 1 pieul is 139 pounds. 



