MALAYAN FISHES. ,43 



When frcshh- caught and cooked they are all excellent eating, 

 but they do not keep well. 



The Chencharu is quite common and is found in large slioals. 

 When in season, large numbers will lie found in the markets and if 

 quite fresh they are good edible fish. They are said to attain a 

 length of 5 feet. 



AH the Selar are good eating, but the fre.-her they are the 

 better. They give good sport with a light rod and small hook, to 

 which a few small white feathers have been " whipped.'" 



They like shade and will be found in the neighbourhood of 

 piers and under vessels. AVlien cruising, I have often noticed 

 Selar taking shelter under my yacht, when we were becalmed, and 

 if the period coincided with a meal time, we used to catch as many 

 as we wanted in a few minutes. 



There are, at times, large numliers of Selar in j-hallow water 

 off Singapore as, probably, many sea-side residents know. 



The Chermin (C. gallu.s) is a deep^bodied fish somewhat re- 

 sembling the Dory in sliape and is one of the best, if not the best, 

 food fisih in this family. It is found generally on reefs ; takes a 

 prawn or fi^h bait, and gives splendid sport as it fights very hard 

 and takes a bit of playing. 



Specimens 2 feet in length are nbt uncommon and it is said 

 to grow to five feet in length. It is known in Australia as the 

 ♦Silvery Moon-fish. 



The Nyior nyior {Tradii/nofiis ovaltis and T. Ixtilloni) are 

 known in Australia as the I>art. These fish must he fre.-h to be 

 appreciated. 



The Talang (Chorinenius spp.) is a common fish in the 

 markets and fairly popular with most Asiatics, but some Malays 

 have a prejudice against it and will tell you that it gives them an 

 irritating and disfiguring affection of the skin. 



It may be that the general appearance of these fish, all of which 

 have a row of dark blotches along the side, may suggest the un- 

 sightly blotches seen on the faces, bodies and limbs of natives who 

 are afflicted with certain kinds of skin disease, hedal, sopak, etc. 

 or that the con.-umption of this fish when not perfectly fresh causes 

 urticaria, but the subject should be worth investigation. 



One local species of Talang (8. sancti-petri) is known also in 

 Australia as the Queen-fish, and another {S. fooloo-parah) is known 

 also in Philippine waters as the Talang-talang. 



There are many otlier excellent food fish in this family in- 

 cluding the Lembudok or Demudok, Qerepoh and Berkas, not 



specifically identified. 



The generic term by whicli the C'aran.r Ijranch of this family is 

 known to the Moros, in the Fliilippines, is Daing puti. The name 

 Daing belang occurs locally and is applied to Caranx speciosus 

 and C. compressus, 



