196 FISHERIES OP THE ORIENTAL REGION, 



not so common as others, and the air-vessel is very thin and light, 

 that from a large fish when dried weighing little over an ounce. 

 The species is known as the "cock-up" amongst Europeans, 



PoLYNEMUS iNDicus, RusselL Malay name Ikan kurow. This 

 fish is also found in Australia and extends to India. It attains 

 four feet in length, but is rarely above 20 pounds in weight. A 

 large fish yields about two ounces of rough isinglass. The largest 

 specimens appear to be captured in the mouths of larger rivers. 

 It takes a bait freely (Day). It is frequently found blind, 

 possibly from the friction of mud in river mouths. 



Sci^NOiDEs BiAURiTUS, Cantor, = Collichthys biauritus, 

 Giinther, = Otolithus biauritus, Cantor, Catal. p. 57. Malay name 

 Ikan salampai. All these Sciaenoids, like the Polynemidaj, possess 

 air-bladders with a most extraordinary development of appendages 

 arising from each side. In this species 52 branches issue from 

 each side, each branch being bifurcate, and bearing smaller 

 appendages (See Giinther, ' On the Study of Fishes,' edit. 1880, 

 p. 144). Seas and estuaries of India to Malaysia and China. 

 Adult specimens three feet long. 



Otolithus ruber, B1. and Schn. Malay name Jarang gigi. 

 This species, though not esteemed much by Europeans, is largely 

 consumed by the natives from June to August, when it is plentiful. 

 The isinglass is considered very good, of almost the best quality. 

 On each side of the air-vessel are 34 processes, the first four or 

 five of which divide in four branches, the next in three, the next 

 in two, and the last simple and longei-, though all have minor 

 ramifications. It contains about 90 per cent, of isinglass, and 

 will set in jelly with 26 times its weight in water. Seas of India to 

 Malaysia. Attaining two and a half feet in length. It is the 

 commonest form in the Indian seas, especially along the Coro- 

 mandel coast. It is pretty good for the table, spawning from 

 March to July (Day). 



Otolithus maculatus, CuWer, IMalay name Jarang gigi. The 

 origin of this Malay name " gigi " or teeth, has reference to the 



