FOOD PRODUCTS OF THE SEA — FISHES, 



313 



preparations of them are to be found in the bazaars. 

 Owing to the high price of salt, which is a Government 

 monopoly, the cured fish have a very unpleasant odour 

 and flavour, for very often they are merely rubbed with 

 saline earth. The fish most in repute among Europeans 

 are the seer ( Oyhium commersonW), the pomfrets {Stromateiis 

 niger and S. argenteiis), and the mullets. The seer is sold 

 in cutlets, like salmon inEurope, and is in some respects 

 perhaps superior to salmon, more especially as regards 

 digestibility. Hilsah {Clupea ilasah) is a delicious fish, 

 either boiled, baked, or fried. When cured with tama- 

 rinds it forms a good substitute for herrings. 



Pomfrets are also prepared in this way, and much 

 esteemed as a breakfast relish. The fish are cut in trans- 

 verse slices, and preserved in kegs with the acid pulp of 

 the tamarind fruit. 



Burtah, the salted and spiced flesh of the suleah flsh 

 {Polynemus sele) is a piquant relish well known at the 

 breakfast tables of Bengal. 



The dried sounds or swimming-bladders of many 

 fishes are largely shipped to China and other parts under 

 the name of " flsh maws," singally and sozille ; Poly- 

 nemus pleheius and P. indictis seem to furnish the greater 

 portion. These flsh are caught of a great size and sold 

 in the Calcutta bazaar during the cold season. 



The larger part of the salted flsh imported by the 

 Burmese and Arabs was formerly re-shipped, chiefly to 

 Ceylon, 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 lbs., but much is now used 

 at home. The following flgures give the Indian trade of 

 the last few years ending 1st April, in pounds weight. 



