1849.] Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. 1283 



river Siak in Sumatra, and of which the dried roe, of enormous size, 

 constitutes an article of commerce. (Crawfurd : Hist. Ind. Archipel. 

 III. 440. — Royle: On the Production of Isinglass , 76). A description 

 of the fishing of this species is given by the late Mr. Moor in 

 Notices of the Indian Archipelago, &c. p. 29. " At Bukit Batu,* a 

 place on the main of Sumatra within the Strait formed by the island 

 of Bankalis, exists an extensive fishery well known in this part of the 

 world. The fish which is the object of it is called in the Malayan 

 language : Trubu. The fish itself is sufficiently known in all the 

 neighbouring seas but found with a roe only here,f which makes it 

 certain that it repairs to this favoured place for the purpose of spawn- 

 ing. The Trubu, about a cubit long, is taken in 3 and 4 fathoms 

 water on a mud bank. About 300 boats are engaged at all seasons in 

 the fishery with the exception of four days during dead neap tides. 

 The roes are an article of trade seaways, and the dried fishes are sent 

 into the interior of Sumatra. The Rajah of Siak draws a revenue 

 from this fishery of 72,000 guilders yearly, receiving a certain duty 

 upon the quantity taken. From the rate and amount of this duty it 

 is ascertained that the quantity of fish caught yearly amounts to 

 between fourteen and fifteen millions. It seems a little remarkable that 

 the spirit of European monopoly never should have fastened upon so 

 promising an object of gain. The fishery, from its peculiar nature, is 

 probably quite inexhaustible, and might unquestionably be prodigiously 

 improved by European skill and industry, and this too not only without 

 detriment, but probably to the great improvement of the revenue of 

 the native prince, as well as the essential benefit of the surrounding 

 population." In the Malayan markets the roe is called " Telur ikan" 

 the fish-roe "par excellence." Like the preparation of fermented fish and 

 shell-fish : " Balachan" it is largely used by the Malays and Chinese 

 to season and make their food palatable and it is no less a favourite relish 

 with Europeans. W. T. Lewis, Esq. Resident Counsellor, Pinang, who 

 has observed the process of preparation in Sumatra, describes it as 

 follows. The fresh roe is thoroughly salted, and next partially dried, 

 60 as to retain a slight moisture, in which state it is by hundreds closely 



* Opposite to, and a little to the southward of Malacca. 



t That is to say, in shoals, for it is plentiful at Pinang, Malacca and Singapore. 



