FISHERY RESOURCES OP THE PHILIPPINES, I. 519 



THE MILKFISHES. 

 Family Chanidw. (PI. X.) 



The aiva or milkfish [Ghanos chanos (Forskal)], called baiTgos, 

 haiigod, kaivag-hawag, and iumulocso by the Filipinos and iangellus by 

 the Moros, is one of the most important commercial fishes in the Islands. 

 It ranges over the entire group, from northern Luzon to Sitanki and is 

 the most abundant fish in the Manila market. Frequentlj', during 

 protracted rough weather it is the only variety obtainable. It is raised 

 chiefly in the fish ponds at Malabon and at other places near Manila 

 and therefore can be secured at any time regardless of the weather. 



This fish is particularly adapted to pond culture, being a vegetable 

 feeder of rapid growth. The bangos superficially resembles the mullet, 

 but can easily be distinguished by the fact that the mullet has two fins 

 on the back, while the baiTgos has but one. The bangos frequently 

 reaches a length of 1.2 meters and then it is termed Iumulocso. The 

 eggs are deposited in the sea. The young appear during the months of 

 April, M.a,j, June, and July and are called kawag-kaivag. They are 

 supplied with a yolk-sack which furnishes them with food until they are 

 about 14 millimeters in length. At this age they are to be found in 

 great numbers along the beaches of Zambales, Batangas, Mindoro, 

 Marinduque, and doubtless in numerous other places. Here they are 

 captured by the natives and placed in large earthen jars full of water 

 called palyok. They are then conveyed to the fish ponds, frequently a 

 hundred miles distant. (Fig. 1.) 



One of the jars, palyok, contains about 3, .500 young biiiTgos. They 

 sell for from 20 to 25 pesos per isong lacsa (10,000) ; about six 

 lacsa (60,000) are used to stock one pond of 1 hektare. As the fish 

 grow they are thinned out by transfer to other ponds. Thirty-three 

 per cent should reach marketable size. Four months after the transfer 

 the bangos should each be 25 centimeters in length. This size of fish 

 retails for 9 centavos each; in 8 months the young are each 40 centi- 

 meters long and bring 20 centavos, while a yearling should measure 

 half a meter and bring from 50 to 60 centavos. ^ 



FISH PONDS. - 



Almost any kind of ground other than a sandy soil will do for a 

 fish pond. It should be near salt water and not beyond the influence 

 of the tide, as the bangos thrive best, in brackish water. A complete 

 system should have at least four ponds. These should be so constructed 

 that one equals in area at least that of the other tlii'ee combined. 



'I am indebted to Mr. W. D. Carpenter of Malabon for most of the information 

 regarding tiah ponds. 



