8 FISHERIES OF THE ORIENTAL REGION, 



and S. cinereus. The first is the black Ponifret or Bawal- 

 tumbak of the Malays. It is taken in abundance in the Straits of 

 Malacca at all seasons. It is broad and something like a flat-fish, 

 and in the dried state is largely exported. It is considered 

 inferior to S. sinensis or the white Pomfret, the " Pample blanche" 

 of Pondicherry, and Bawal-chirmin of the Malays. Renowned 

 for its flavour, it must be eaten fresh ; abundant from the 

 Coromandel coast to Hong Kong. Stromateus cinereus, Bloch, is 

 a smaller species, and so is S. argentius, Bloch; both of good 

 flavour and equally abundant. 



The markets of the Straits Settlements and Archipelago do not 

 usually contain as varied an assortment of marine food as one 

 sees in the markets of China and Japan. But all kinds of fish- 

 food may be said to be eaten, not excepting the little hopping-fish, 

 Periopthalmus koelreuterr, Pallas, the Ikan lesah (restless fish) of 

 the Malays. These are little blackish-olive fish, which occur in 

 great numbers in the muddy mangrove swamps and streams. On 

 approaching the vvater they may be seen making a series of rapid 

 leaps along the surface and on to wet ground. Being true gobies 

 they have strong pectoral and ventral fins by means of which 

 they are able to adhere to the rocks. As far as my observation 

 goes, they never remain in the water. In the Philippines I have 

 seen them clinging round the rocks just at the water's edge, and 

 on the approach of danger hop along the water to some other 

 rock. Their eyes are very prominent, and can be moved inde- 

 pendently of one another. Great numbers of them may be seen 

 in the ditches round the fortifications in the Peninsula. It is not 

 considered wholesome food, and is consumed only by the poorest 

 classes. 



I have already observed that it is difficult to make an absolute 

 distinction between the marine and freshwater fishes, but still 

 there are certain general differences which may be noted. The two 

 principal families of freshwater fishes are the carps and the cat- 

 fishes or sheat-fishes (Cyprinidas and Siluridae). The carps form 



