34 MALAYAN FISHES. 



JEW FISHES. 



(SCIAENIDAE.) 



About 150 species of this family are found in various part? 

 of the world. Xearl_Y all are of economic value, some l)eino- highly- 

 so, and many of them reach a very large size. 



The Tembereh (Sciaena diaicanfliuf:) is one of the commonest 

 coast and estuary fishes and perhaps the largest member of this 

 family in our waters. It attains a length of at least 5 feet. 



The Qelama (Otolithus spp.) are among our commonest 

 fishes. Tliey travel in slioals numbering many thousands and are 

 taken in deep water liauling nets {Fukat petaram) by Trenggami 

 and Kelantan fisliermen. These fisli are dried and salted on the 

 East coast and thousands of pikuls are exported annually. 



Tlie Qelama will take a bait but are liardlv worth fishing for 

 as the}' give no sport and are insipid table fish even when quite- 

 fresh. As " ikan kering '' with curry they are quite good. 



"SILVER-BREAM." 



(GERRIDAE.) 



These are small fish inhabiting all tropical seas and entering 

 estuaries. 



According to Day tliese fishes are eaten by tlie indigent classes 

 in India heing little esteemed wlien fresli, but as tliey salt and dry 

 well, large num1)ers are prejjared in this manner for use. 



Tlie family contains about sixty species of which only six are 

 mentioned in this work. 'Some 15 si)ecies are found in Australia 

 and 23 in Indian waters. They rarely exceed a length of ten 

 inches : nearly all have a plain silvery coloration. 



In America, the fishes of this family are known as " Mojarras." 



The Kapas-kapas (Gerres sp.) will take a bait, preferably 

 prawns or beach worms, and may l)e caught in the vacinity of fish- 

 ing stakes (Kelong) as in and also near reet\s. When freshly 

 caught it will 'be found quite a pleasant table fish with compara- 

 tixely few bones. 



SELEMAH. 



(LACTARIIDAE.) 



Tlie Selemah is the sole memlier of this family and is not a 

 fish i>f much economic importance. It grows to a length of about 

 10 indies, and is eaten by the natives either fresh or salted hut is 

 said to be insipid. 



It appears in Malailiar in shoals during the months of February 

 and March. 



Thcv enter the Straits during the X. E. monsoon but not in 

 large numbers ami I am informed by jMalay fishermen that they 

 rarely take more than half a dozen on any one' day. 



Thcv do not take a bait but a few find their way into nets and 

 traps. 



