1839.] Indian Cyprinidce. 655 



dupois, at the above rate, would afford a nutritious meal to 1560 

 persons. 



" Whether it be used in times of scarcity in China I do not know, 

 but probably it is collected and stored to meet such occasions, since 

 Dr. Lumqua— an honorary member of this Society — -a Chinese Physi- 

 cian, long resident in this city informs me that the Bengal fish-sago 

 procured from Polyneuritis sele, Buch. is known throughout the empire, 

 and that nothing could surpass his surprise on his arrival nearly twenty- 

 five years ago in Calcutta, when he found that with the exception 

 of his own countrymen who carried on the trade, no one appeared to 

 know or care anything whatever for the article in question, and as no 

 one could describe the fish, the same ignorance continued up to within 

 the last few months to prevail on the subject. The advantage, however 

 inconceivable, of an abundant supply of any substance, a single maund 

 of which would afford a nutritious meal to upwards of one hundred 

 thousand persons, could only be felt occasionally, but the intrinsic 

 value of the article in all the common conveniences of life, is eminently 

 calculated to direct attention to other uses of the species affording it. 



" This is one of the largest and finest fishes, both as regards flavour 

 and wholesomeness, on our coasts or in our rivers, while the season at 

 which it is taken is the one most favourable for a residence in boats or 

 ships in the Sunderbuns. Under these circumstances it is not likely 

 that the subject of sea fisheries in this quarter will be altogether over- 

 looked, longer than the circumstances on which their success must 

 depend shall have been properly examined. 



" All sea fisheries are practised on migratory species, which advance 

 annually at stated periods in search of food and proper situations to 

 deposit their spawn. Their progress is so regulated that at certain 

 seasons they approach the different coasts, in their course, with so much 

 regularity as to enable the people to repose as much confidence and 

 hope in their coming and departure as they usually place in the ripen- 

 ing of their crops. The shoals of fishes are so dense as to cover the sea 

 for leagues without interruption, and extend to a solid depth of many 

 fathoms in some instances, so that they are taken as quickly as it is 

 possible to salt and barrel them. The season lasts from a month to six 

 weeks, when thousands, of ships are laden with cargoes which are to 

 serve as the common stock of food for many of the surrounding nations 

 for twelve months, when the fishing is recommenced. 



" Such are the fisheries on the banks of Newfoundland, on the coasts 

 of Norway, Sweden, and Great Britain ; and unless the coasts of India 



4 p 



