514 SEALE. 



THE HEEEINGS. 

 Family Clupeida. (PI. II.) 



There are about thirteen distinct species of herring represented in the 

 Philippine waters and notwithstanding their rather small size, they are 

 of considerable commercial importance. Thej^ abound in immense num- 

 bers along the coasts of almost all the islands of the group. Some are 

 more or less migratory, others seem to remain near one place. Large 

 numbers are caught in Manila Bay at all seasons of the year. These 

 represent the forms called tunsoy [Harengula moluccensis (Bleeker)], 

 tamban {H. longiceps Bleeker), and hilis \H. gibbosa (Bleeker)]. The 

 young of all species are termed silinasi. Great numbers are caught in 

 corrals, especially during May and June ; they are also taken in the drag- 

 seine. It is not an unusual siglit to see large bancas loaded to the 

 gunwale with herring lieing landed at Tondo beach, where the fish are 

 sold to the Chinese to l^e smoked and dried. The natives in Zamboanga 

 buy large quantities to eat in the fresh state. Any of these sardines 

 would compare favorably with the species put uj) in oil on the Pacific 

 coast. 



During the nine months from January first to September first, 1907, 

 85,000 pesos worth of canned sardines were imported into the Philip- 

 pines; this, too, with the Philippine waters swarming with sardines and 

 with an abundance of good sesame oil which could be used for canning 

 purposes, produced in Manila. 



THE SILVERSIDES. 

 Family Atherinidce. (PI. III.) 



The silverside, called gimo in Tagalog and Moro, and ti-i in Ilokano, 

 is without doubt the most abundant fish in the Philippines. It is 

 almost impossible to land at any wharf or go ashore on any beach 

 without seeing these little fish in countless numbers. They usually 

 grow to a length of from 10 to 12 centimeters. They have a greenish 

 tint on the back and a bright, silvery band on the sides. There are five 

 or six different species, but they appear so much alike that the natives 

 have not distinguished between them, calling all simply gutio. The 

 most common species is possibly Atherina, temminchi (Bleeker). 



The guno are known as pescados del rey, ''fishes of the king," among 

 the Spaniards. They are gi-eatly valued as food. The young are 

 termed whitebait. The method of catching is usually by seine or corral. 

 A profitable industry could be built up bj' prej^ariag these fish in a good 

 sauce, by pickling them with spices, or by drying. An abundant supply 



