16 MALAYAN FISHES. 



Its cultivation is a considera.ble industry in tlie Philippines, 

 the Sandwich Islands and Java, and Day records that, in South 

 Canara. Hyder Ali introduced it from the sea into tanks of fresh 

 and hracki,-h water where it still thrives. 



Seale^ gives a most interestino- and valiiahle account of the 

 cultivation of this fish, "which is known by tlie Filipinos as the- 

 Bangos ; I quote the following extracts : 



" The Milk-fish is one of the most important commercial 

 fishes in the Islands. It is raised cliiefly in the fish ponds at 

 Malal>on and at other places near Manila and therefore can be 

 .'•ecured at any time regardless of the weather. 



" This fish is particularly ada]3ted to pond culture being a 

 vegetable feeder of rapid growth. 



" The eggs are deposited in the sea. Tlie young apjjcar 

 during the months of April. May, June and July. They are to 

 be found in great numhers along the beaches and are captured 

 l)y the natives and placed in large earthen jars full of water 

 called pali/ok. Tliey are then conveyed to the fish ponds, 

 frequently a hundred miles distant. 



" One of the jars contains about 2.5011 young Bangos. 

 Aljout 60,000 are used to stock one pond of 1 hektare. As the 

 fish grow they axe thiimed out hy transfer to other ponds. 

 Thirty-three per cent should reach marketalile size and a year- 

 ling should measure lialf a metre.'" 



FOOD OF THE illLK FISH. 



'' If it is desired to cultivate the food alga, the water of 

 the ]K)nd is allowed to drain ort' aiul the clay is expos-od to the 

 full power of the sun. The alga ra]ndly makes its appearance 

 and a little water is then permitted to cover tlie bottom. Tliis 

 is gradually increased as the Oedogonium develops. 



" The average value of the ponds about Manila Bay is pro- 

 bably 40 centavos per square metre, giving a total of more than 

 6,00'0,000 pesos for the pond value alone, which 1 am convinced 

 is a conservative estimate."' 



There sliould be no great difficulty in establishing a similar in- 

 dustry in Malaya and there are many mangrove areas on the West 

 Coast of the Peninsula where series of ponds could lie constructed. 



There are many places where these fish are feeding on beds of 

 sea moss and I saw millions of fry not far from Butterworth 

 recently (Marcli 21st) which a Javanese told me were Anak 

 jangas. Tlie Milk Fish attains a lengtli of 5 feet. It is not often 

 captured as it will not take a liait and will jumii over a seine or 

 drift net. 



"Fishery resources of the Philippines." 



