MALAYAN FISHES. 2? 



GAR-FISH, QAR.PIKE AND FLYING-FISH. 



(SCOMBRESOGIDAE.) 



Most of the members of this family, of which about 200 species 

 are knowii, are marine : some are carnivorous, and others mainly 

 henbivorous, feeding on green algae. Nearly all are in the habit of 

 making great leaps out of the water, this tendency culminating in 

 the Flying-lisli {E.cocoetiis] , and there is every passage between 

 the small pectoral tin of a Gar-ti.h and the swallow-iike " wings "' oi 

 the most developed Flying-fisli. 



They are excellent edible iish and the Todak {Belone spp.) 

 which have green bones are neverthele,-s very palataljle and useful 

 food fish. There is a more or less prevalent idea that fishes with 

 green bones are poisonous ; tliis is one of the popular fallacies 

 which no facts or arguments will ever overcome. 



The Puput or Jenjulong (llemirhwmphus spp.) or Half- 

 beak can be easily identified by the fact that the lower jaw only is 

 prolonged. Both jaws of the Todak are ]3rolonged into a long 

 slender beak. 



The Todak though common is a very sliy and wily fish. It 

 gives a boat a wide berth and though a rapid swimming and pre- 

 dacious fisrh it disdains ordinary lures and baits. The Malay fisher- 

 men, however, circumvent tliem by fishing with a kite from whicli 

 dangles a length of fine line terminating in a noose. The bait is at- 

 tached to the noose. G-iveu a breeze sulticient to keep the kite flying', 

 quite good sport is obtained. ]3erliaps a dozen fish or more in an 

 hour. The Todak makes a fierce dash at the bait, the noose tight- 

 ens round the upper jaw. and the recurved teeth prevent the noose 

 from slipping. 



The Puput is also a shy biter when it sees its would-be cap- 

 tor at the other end of a rod or line, and the Malays consequently 

 use short baited lines attached to floats (Pelontang puput) which 

 they send adrift and pick up when tlie movements of the float shew 

 that a fish is firmly hooked. 



Flying-fishes are very good eating l)ut not often obtained. I 

 have picked them up on the deck after a S(juall3- night at sea. 



SAND-SMELTS. 



{ATHEE/yinAE.) 



These pretty little fishes, called Rennyau or Paku in Malay, 

 are common all along our coasts and also frequent estuaries and 

 tidal river,:. Seale^ writes: 



'■ It is almost im]50ssible to laud at any wharf or to go 

 ashore on any beach without seeing these little fish in count- 

 less numbers. They u>ually grow to a length of from 10 to 

 rS centimeters. They have a greenish tint on the back and a 

 bright silvery band on the sides. 



1 Fishery resources of the Philippines. 



