ii Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. [Oct. 



vices. Their trade exposes these men to little exertion or hardship, 

 and the greater part of their time is spent idly, if not viciously, on 

 shore. Contrary to their countrymen in general, the Chinese fish- 

 ermen are considered the least desirable class of settlers. The fish- 

 mongers are also natives of China, but they form a class far superior 

 to the fishermen. Their trade comprises the following branches, viz. 



1. Fresh Fish. 



2. Dried Fish. 



3. Isinglass (Fish-Maws). 



4. Fish-Roes. 



5. 6. Red Fish and " Sardines." 



7. Sharks' Fins. 



8. Balachan. 



9. Fish Manure. 

 10. Tripang. 



1. Fresh Fish. The fishermen dispose of their boat loads to the 

 fishmongers who assort the different kinds in heaps, over which sea- 

 water is continually poured, and from these the daily customers are 

 supplied. Although comparatively few kinds of fishes appear on the 

 tables of Europeans, the Malays and Chinese are less nice in their 

 selection, and reject but very few kinds. 



2. Dried Fish. The daily surplus of fishes is cured by the 

 fishmongers. The process commences with a partial abrasion of the 

 scales, after which the larger fishes are opened lengthwise, and the 

 intestines removed. Water is repeatedly poured over the fishes till 

 blood and impurities have disappeared, when they are placed in casks 

 in flat layers, between which is thrown a quantity of salt. In this 

 state the fishes remain from 24 to 48 hours, when they are exposed to 

 the sun, and frequently turned, till they are thoroughly dried. The 

 smaller kinds are not opened, nor are they all salted before drying in 

 the sun. The little care bestowed upon the curing appears, however, 

 to be sufficient for local consumption, and none of our Settlements in 

 the Straits export dried fishes. The Pikul* sells from 3 to 7 Spanish 

 Dollars.^ 



* The Pikul of 100 Katties equals 133£ lbs ; the Katty 1| lb. 

 f The Spanish Dollar is about 4*. 6d. 



