28 MALAYAN FISHES. 



POMFRETS. 



(STBOMATEIDAE.) 



The Bawal is one of our well known and most popular edible 

 fish and takes a high place amoncf our very best food fishe.?. 



Of the three species known, the Bawal chermin {Stromaie'us 

 atous) is most esteemed, though all are good. 



The Bawal puteh and Bawal itam (S. cinereus) are iden- 

 tical, the fish getting darker as it reaches maturity. A shoal of 

 immature fishes of this species seen on a calm, clear night is a 

 most beautiful sight. In the reflected light of the moon, they look 

 like tiny silvery stars. The Malays call them Bawal bintang. 

 When mature they are a darker gray colour. 



The mature Bawal^ itam are very much better eating than the 

 immature Bawal puteh. 



The Bawal tambak {S. niger) is the largest of the family. 

 It grows to a length of two feet and is excellent eating. 



Tliese fishes are considered by fishermen the stupidest fish that 

 swim. They have a curious sheep-like habit of huddling together 

 and are also afflicted with a kind of ovine curiosity. They will 

 follow anything that excites their curio.-ity such as a boat and this 

 habit leads to their capture. 



When a shoal is observed the fisliermen manoeuvre their boat 

 so as to attract the interest of the fish until they ar? all following 

 in a compact flock. At the same time the boat is taking a circular 

 course and the net is being shot very quietly. At the right moment 

 all the fishermen raise a tremendous din with clappers and at the 

 same time splash the water with their paddles. The shoal does a 

 perfect right-about turn and each fish dashes headlong into the net. 



MURREL. 



(OFHIOCEPIIALIDAE.) 



These fresh-water fishes are provided with a respiratory orgart 

 on each side, above and communicating with the gills, which 

 enables them to breath atmospheric air. 



They can live for long periods out of water and travel over the 

 land from one piece of water to another. They are useful food fish 

 and well adapted for pond culture provided that the pond is well 

 stocked with the small fish and frogs on which the.y feed, but if the 

 food runs short, they will go elsewhere. 



Day writes, " Jugglers Ijoth in India and China exhibit these 

 fishes walking on the laud, and children amuse themselves by 

 making them crawl along.'' 



The young as a rule are of a more or less orange or scarlet 

 colour. 



