272 THE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS OF THE FISHERIES. 



the larger ones much exhausted. On being taken home, the back fins, 

 the only ones used, are cut off, and dried on the sands in the sun ; the 

 flesh is cut off in long strips, and salted for food ; the liver is taken out 

 and boiled down for oil ; the head, bones, and intestines left on the shore 

 to rot, or thrown into the sea, where numberless little sharks are gene- 

 rally on the watch to eat up the remains of their kindred. The fisher- 

 men themselves are only concerned in the capture of the sharks. So 

 soon as they are lauded they are purchased up by Banians, on whose 

 account all the other operations are performed. The Banians collect 

 them in quantities, and transmit them to agents in Bombay, by whom 

 they are sold for shipment to China. 



In Akyab harbour, about 200 maunds of black fins are collected 

 annually, worth 9 rupees per maund, and 150 maunds of white fins. 

 White fins fetch the higher price of 30 rupees per maund. The local 

 name for them is Gua-maget. They are exported to China and the 

 Straits. Shark skin is used by the native workmen for polishing wood 

 and ivory, and is also made into shagreen. 



Another important marine product is the fish-glue, or isinglass, ob- 

 tained from various fisheries of the Indian Ocean. 



The solid dried sounds or swimming bladders of many fishes, are 

 largely shipped to China and other parts under the name of " fish maws." 



The Polynemus plebeius and indicus seem to furnish the largest por- 

 tion. These fish are caught of a great size, and sold in the Calcutta 

 bazaar during the cold season. This isinglass is also said to be pro- 

 duced of good quality by Indian species of Silurus and Pimelodus. 

 Isinglass, the produce of Bengal, has been celebrated in China from the 

 earliest times ; it is called there Fish sago. About 2,500 cwts. of fish 

 maws are exported from Bombay, and smaller quantities from Madras 

 and Bengal. At Akyab, fish maws, known locally as " Zeebaeing," are 

 produced to the extent of 30 or 40 maunds per annum, the price being 

 35 rupees per maund. They are exported to Cnina and the Straits. 



Among the fish and other oils locally obtained or met with in 

 commerce in the East, are at Madras, karahmanoo fish oil (from Polynemus 

 plebeius and P. uronemus), seri-nei (shark-liver) oil, and Bochet-fish liver 

 oil, Cooawanoo oil from the loggerhead turtle (Caouana divacea, Esch.), 

 Amaci nai (turtle oil), shark oil, Bombay and Tellichery ; fish oil, 

 Malabar ; porpoise oil, Patna ; fish maw oil, Joree oil, and Seephoo oil, 

 Calcutta ; muria ekam fish oil, Indian Archipelago ; fish oil, Japan. 



Fish-liver oil is now prepared in large quantities on the Western 

 and Malabar coasts for exportation. That supplied to hospitals for the 

 use of the troops, is obtained from the liver of the skate, seer, and 

 white shark indiscriminately. From analysis and experiments made 

 in England, it has been found to equal in its medicinal properties the 

 best cod-Liver oil, but from its disagreeable taste and odour, it can never 

 supersede the oil of Newfoundland. A more agreeable kind of oil may 

 be prepared from the livers of the skate or seer fish, but when the liver of 



