186 



On East Indian Isinglass. 



cription.* It was Sir Joseph Banks who furnished the specimen, and 

 who procured it at Otaheite, where it was named D'emoi. The sailors of 

 the first expedition of Cook also caught them at the Isle of Tanna. 

 In the Royal Museum of the Netherlands, there is a specimen which 

 came from Java. It is as we have said the Polynemus figured by Com- 

 merson from a specimen caught at the Isle of France, f and the 

 Kala-mine of Tranquebar sent to Bloch by John ; we have also received 

 it from Pondicherry through M. Leschenault, under the name of Pole- 

 kala. Lastly, Mr. Buchanan believed, with every reason for the truth of 

 his opinion, that it is the Sele of the Ganges. They are therefore to be 

 regarded as inhabiting the whole of the Indian and warmer parts of 

 the Pacific Oceans, but we do not know where Bloch has taken his 

 authority for its also being found in America. Admitting as we may, 

 the identity of these subjects, we may regard the Polynemus as a fish re- 

 markable for its fine flavour and the size which it attains on certain coasts. 

 According to John, as quoted by Bloch, it attains in Malabar four feet 

 in length, and we have seen in the Royal Museum of the Netherlands an 

 individual from Java, forty-five inches in length. John adds, that it is 

 one of those species on which the name of Royal Fish is bestowed in the 

 Colonies, and by the traders on the Coromandel Coast, with whom the 

 head is considered a delicate morsel ; they are dried and salted, and also 

 preserved with spices. They are seen in great quantities on the 

 Coasts in search of clear places on sand banks in the mouths of rivers. 

 They afford much fishing in those of the Krishna and Godaveri. 

 They are in season in January ; they spawn in April. 



We found in a manuscript of Commerson, recently communicated to 

 us by M. Hammer, that at the Isle of France, where they are named 

 Barbue, they are caught in small quantities all the year, and being 

 scarce, are reserved for the tables of the rich. 



If it be the same as the Sele of the Ganges described by Mr. Buchanan, 

 it does not enjoy such a character in Bengal. This author says merely, 

 its flesh is light, and something like that of the Sola, or as others say, 

 like our Merlan ; but that numerous species are preferable for their 

 flavour. They are caught in great numbers in the mouths of the 

 Ganges, and weigh from 20 to 24 lbs. At Pondicherry, they appear 

 to be smaller, for it is remarked by M. Leschenault, that they are 

 a foot in length ; they may be taken all the year round on the coast 

 at Pondicherry, but are not common. It will be for those observers 



* Dans le premier et 1' unique cahier de son Ichtzologic (Copic dans l'Encyclopsdic Me- 

 thodique Jehtzologie, fig. 209.) 



t Copied in Laccpedc, t. v. PI. 13, fig. 2. 



