Chap. X.] 



SHARKS. — SAW-FISH. 



325 



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 Governor 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- Gulf of Manaar they are 

 taken for the sake of their oil, of which they yield such 

 a quantity that 6( 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- as the " poisonous sprat ; " the 



dine found at Ceylon besides the S. bonito {Thynnus affinis, Cang.), the 



Neohowii; such as the S. lineolata, kangewena, or unicorn fish (Ba- 



Cuv. and Val. and the 8. leiogaster, listes?), and a number of others, 



Cuv. and Val. xx. 270, which was are more or less in bad repute from 



found by M. Keynaud at Trinco- the same imputation, 

 malie. It occurs also off the coast 2 Two other species are found in 



of Java. Another Ceylon fish of the Ceylon waters, P. cuspidatus 



the same group, a Clupea, is known and P. pectinatus. 



Y 3 



