MALAYAN FISHES. 35 



QRUNTERS. 



(PRISTIPOMATIDAE.) 



Tliis family contains about 130 species belonijing to four 

 genera, of wliich tlii-ee u'enera inhabit our waters, viz. Pristipoma 

 (Qerut-gerut), Diagrainma (Tebal bibir) and Pentapus CSelin- 

 ching). 



The Qerut-gerut are good food fishes and take a bait readily.. 

 They are fond of back waters and one speeies (7^. guoraca) is said 

 to have been captured in fresh water. 



I have taken several in brackish water and found them, when 

 freshly cooked, excellent eating. 



Our largest species (7^- hasin) attains a length of about 18 

 inches and is known in Australian waters as the Queensland Trum- 

 peter. Of this fish Stead writes, " The Ajustralian home of this 

 magnificent food-fish is principally along the coast of Queensland 

 where it is well and favourably known.'' 



The names Qerut-gerut and Trumpeter are descriptive 

 of the grunting noise the fisli makes after capture. 



The Tebal bibir are also good edible fish and attain a lengtli 

 of two feet or more. 



I have no personal knowledge of the Selinching (Pentapus) 

 and place it here from a description supplied to me, together with, 

 a pocket-kodak sna):)-.-hot wliich does not display the fish very well. 



SEA-BREAMS. 



(S PARI DAE.) 



This, again, is an important family which includes many 

 varieties of valuable food fishes. Some are carnivorous. 



Following Dr. G. A. Boulenger's classification, the principal 

 genera found in Malayan waters are Scolopsis, Sijnagris, Caesio, 

 Crenidens, Lethrinu.t and Sparus. 



Of the Qeretak lantei (Scolopsis spp.) of Singapore, so 

 called from the parallel bands wliich distinguish most species, \L 

 can say little. The only species of Scolopxi^ with which I am 

 familiar are the Anjang-anjang and Kerisi bali, which are occa- 

 sionally taken when fishing for Kerisi. 



The Kerisi (Si/nagrix spp.) are lieautiful little fish of a 

 roseate hue with yellow and silvery bands. Tliey are very common 

 all up the east coast where they can be taken Wiith a line, practically 

 anywhere, in fairly deep water on a sandy bottom. 



They average perhap.-^ five or six to the pound but I have 

 taken them up to a pound or more in SO fathoms near Tioman 

 Island. Kerisi fishing is, or used to be, the favourite out-door 

 sport of the Malay Prince.sses of Pahang, and during the S. W. 

 Monsoon regular expeditions were made to the Kerisi grounds and 



