— 15 — 



Fish as food. 



Fish is to be regarded as an accessory rather than an 

 essential article of food, with the exception, that, where 

 they ace abundant, as in the vicinity of fishery stations, 

 they often form the sole animal food partaken of by man. 

 They are sold either in the fresh or preserved condition, 

 and in both cases it is essential that they should be handed 

 for consumption in the state that these terms imply. No arFsinfYrom 

 aniipal food is so liable to contamination and putrefaction tainted eah. 

 as fish, and many intestinal disorders are traceable to 

 the want of precautions in its sale and use. It ought to 

 be borne in mind that many fish, which at certain seasons 

 are harm- less, are at others most hurtful, and even 

 poisonous, and in hot climates where decomposition sets 

 in early, it is important that precaution should be taken 

 to guard against the sale of tainted fish. 



Fresh fish may be recognised by their bright red gills, characters 



■ of fresh fish. 



and rigid body which does not retain the impression of 

 the fingers when squeezed, and above all by their smell. 

 Any fish not fulfilling these conditions ought to be discar- 

 ded. Fish absolutely fresh can rarely be. got in any of 

 the large towns of the Delta out ofthe cold winter months. 

 In the case of the Menzaleh fisheries with which we Dimcuity 

 are at present concerned, the reason is not far to seek. ^*fV°gh"fi8h 

 In summer, when calm weather prevails, and the lake is 

 at its lowest, 24 or more hours elapse between the capture 

 and sale of the fish. Over weather we have no control ; suggestions 



' tor securing 



but by cutting canals, from certain parts of the lake to ^su°p°p*iy."* 



