Chap. X.] SHARKS. — SAW-FISH. 
35>5 
was not a peculiar susceptibility in the condition of the 
recipients ; or whether the mischief may not have been 
occasioned by the wilful administration of poison, or its 
accidental occurrence in the brass cooking vessels used 
by the natives. The popular belief was, however, de- 
ferred to by an order passed by the Grovernor in Council 
in February, 1824, which, after reciting that "Whereas 
it appears by information conveyed to the Government 
that at three several periods at Trincomalie, death has 
been the consequence to several persons from eating the 
fish called Sardinia during the months of January and 
December," enacts that it shall not be lawful in that 
district to catch sardines during these months, under 
pain of fine and imprisonment. This order is still in 
force, but the fishing continues notwithstanding. 1 
Sharks. — Sharks appear on all parts of the coast, 
and instances continually occur of persons being seized 
by them whilst bathing even in the harbours of Trin- 
comalie and Colombo. In the Grulf of Manaar they are 
taken for the sake of their oil, of which they yield such 
a quantity that " shark's oil " is a recognised export. A 
trade also exists in drying their fins, for which, owing 
to the gelatine contained in them, a ready market is 
found in China; whither the skin of the basking shark 
is also sent, to be converted, it is said, into shagreen. 
Saw Fish. — The huge Pristis antiquorum 2 infests 
1 There are other species of Sar- 
dine found at Ceylon "besides the 8. 
Neohowii; such as the 8. lineolata, 
Cut. and Val. and the 8. leiogaster, 
Cuv. and Val. xx. 270, which was 
found by M. ReynaucL at Trinco- 
malie. It occurs also off the coast 
of Java. Another Ceylon fish of 
the same group, a Clupea, is known 
Y 
as the "poisonous sprat;" the 
bonito ( Thynnus affinis, Cang.), the 
kangewena, or unicorn fish {Ba- 
tistes 1), and a number of others, 
are more or less in bad repute from 
the same imputation. 
2 Two other species are found in 
the Ceylon waters, P. cmpidatus 
and P. pectinatus. 
3 
