324 FISHES. [Chap. X. 
a notice of their general characteristics forms an in- 
teresting appendix to the present chapter. 1 
Of those in ordinary nse for the table the finest by far 
is the Seir-fish 2 , a species of Scomberoids, which is called 
Tora-malu by the natives. It is in size and form very 
similar to the salmon, to which the flesh of the female 
fish, notwithstanding its white colour, bears a very close 
resemblance both in firmness and flavour. 
Mackerel, carp, whitings, mullet both red and striped, 
perches and soles are abundant, and a sardine (Sardi- 
nella Neohowii, Val.) frequents the southern and eastern 
coast in such profusion that in one instance in 1839, 
a gentleman who was present saw upwards of four 
hundred thousand taken in a haul of the nets in the 
little bay of Groyapanna, east of Point-de-Gralle. As 
this vast shoal approached the shore the broken water 
became as smooth as if a sheet of ice had been floating 
below the surface. 3 
Poisonous Fishes. — The sardine has the reputation 
of being poisonous • at certain seasons, and accidents 
ascribed to eating it are recorded in all parts of the 
island. Whole families of fishermen who have partaken 
of it have died. Twelve persons in the jail of Ghilaw 
were thus poisoned, about the year 1829; and the 
deaths of soldiers have repeatedly been ascribed to the 
same cause. It is difficult in such instances to say with 
certainty whether the fish were in fault ; whether there 
1 See note B appended to this 
chapter. g , 
2 Cybium {Scomber, Linn.) gut- 
tatum. 
3 These facts serve to explain 
the story told by the friar Odobic 
of Friuli, who visited Ceylon about 
the year 1320 a.d., and says there 
are "fishes in those seas that come 
swimming towards the said country 
in such abundance that for a great 
distance into the sea nothing can 
be seen but the backs of fishes, 
which casting themselves on the 
shore, do suffer men for the space 
of three daies to come and to take 
as many of them as they please, 
and then they return again into 
the sea." — HaMuyt, vol. ii. p. 57. 
