FISPIIOKY liESOUIiCKS OF THK PIIILIPPINKS, I. ol!) 



THE MIUCFIiSllES. 

 Family Ghaniihv. (PJ. X.) 



The awa or milklish ICkanos chanu^ (Forskal) J, called ImuTJjos, 

 bangod, kawag-huvay, and lumulocso by t!n' Filipinos and hangellus by 

 the Moros, is one of the most important conmiei-eial lislies in the Islands. 

 It ranges over the entire gronj), from northei-n Luzon to Sihmki ami is 

 the most abundant fish in the .^tanila market. lMv,|iieutly, during 

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

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

 and therefore can be secured at any lime regardless of the wcatliov. 



This fish is particularly ada[i(cil to pond culture, being .l Ncgeiable 

 feeder of rapid growth. The baiTTjov superficially resembles the mulbi. 

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

 on the back, while the ham/os lias but one. The haiTJ/ox frequently 

 reaches a length of 1.2 nn'lers and then it i^ icnned lumulocso. The 

 eggs are deposited in the sea. The youn;;- apjiear during the montli> ot 

 April, ilay. June, and July and arc called kau-ag-luirag. Thev are 

 supplied with a yolk-sack whicli funiisbcs them with tood until Ihcy arc 

 about 14 millimeters in length. At this age thc\- are to he found in 

 great numbers along the beaehes of Zambales, Batangas, .Mindori), 

 ■\Iarinduque, and doubtless in numerous other places. Here thev are 

 captured by the natives and placed in ]aTg(> earthen jars full of water 

 called palyoh. ^riiey are then conveyed to the ti'-h poiuU. IViM|iien(ly a 

 hundred miles distant. (Fis- !•) 



One of the jars, /luli/nl-, contains alimil 'i,.")!!!! yminu' liuiTi/ns. 'i'bey 

 sell for from 20 to -.'."i jiesos per is(in</ Inr.sa ( Ki.iioo) ; about six 

 larsn (()0,00t)) are used to stock one jiond of J liektare. As the li<li 

 grow the\- are thinned out by transfer to otlicr ponds. Thirty-thi-ee 

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

 the bcuTijii.^ should eafli be "-'o centimeters in length. This size of lisli 

 retails for '•• centavos each; in S months the young arc each 40 centi- 

 meters Ion"- and bring 20 centavos, while a yearling -hould nn'asnre 

 half a meter and bring from 50 to 60 centavos. 



FISH POXDS." 



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

 fish pond. It should be near salt water and not l:ieyond the influence 

 of the tide, as the lanfjos thrive best in brackish water. A c(_)mplete 

 svstem should have at least four ponds. These should be so constructinl 

 that one equals in area at least that of the other three combined. 



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

 regarding fish ponds. 



