The marine siluroid, sheat, or cat-fishes; which cannot be considered migratory, are known by the long feelers round their mouths and absence of scales, and are of considerable economic value ; although not esteemed if eaten fresh, still, numbers are salted for export, while their air-bladders are collected for the isinglass which they afford.
Siluroids are mostly found in muddy waters ; they are common from Bombay down the western coast, and likewise from the mouth of the river Kistna along the muddy coasts of Bengal and Burma, becoming very abundant in the Malay Archipelago. Among what may be tertned the scaled siluroids, a few are excellent eating, but the only one which is found in very large numbers is the bummalo or Bombay duck (Harpodon nehereus). Numerous at Bombay, it is rare all down the Malabar coast, but on the Coromandel side of India a few are taken at Madras ; and as we proceed towards Vizagapatam they augment in numbers, and are common along the entire coast of Bengal. and Burma, ascending large rivers but not above tidal influence. Owing to their al'most gelatinous character, they are easily sun-dried or salted.
The Chondropterygii, or sharks, rays, and skates, play an important part in Indian sea fisheries. Sharks are found along- the whole seaboard, but their carrying off human beings is an uncom mon occurrence. In some years they are more numerous than in others, and this is due to the presence or absence of shoals of smaller fish, as sardines. They are captured both for the purpose of extracting oil from their livers, as well as for their flesh, DS those 'of a medium size are cut up, salted, and sold to the poor. Their fins, likewise, are exported to China, where, due to the gelatine contained in them, they are in demand. for the purpose of making soups. Rays and skates exist in enormous numbers in the Indian seas, where they attain to a great size. The first appear to be gregarious, and may suddenly arrive, to the dismay of the owner of an oyster bed, ae they rarely change their quarters so long as any molluscs are obtainable. Saw-fishes are taken for the same purpose as are sharks.
Of the non-migratory forms, some of which are pre daceous, there are many in the Indian seas,and some are more directly serviceable to man. Although some of these are small, still they make up by num bers for their deficiency in weight, besides being more readily sun-dried, or salted with brine. The little Ambassis, consisting of small fishes rarely ex ceeding six inches in length, with the closely-allied Apogons, equally small, are similarly employed as food. The Pristipomas attain to a larger size,-2 feet or more in length,—are more commonly eaten even while fresh, and some species are very nume rous. Along the Coromandel coast, species of Synagris are extensively eaten, while the genera Equula and Gerres furnish an immense amount of food, -which is consumed by the poor either when fresh or salted. The Mullidoe, so esteemed in some
parts of Europe and rejected in others, furnish many Indian forms. They are, however, not eiteemed ; neither are the beautiful and large Lethrini, nor the more flattened Teuthidid. The gobies of the sea do not attain to a large size, but are of value owing to their abundance. The spineless Anacanthini, or flat fishes, are by no. means uncommon, the largest examples being found off the coast of Sind. The *very young of the Indian species, similarly with those in Europe, have an eye on either side of the head, a subject which has been so elaborately examined by Steen strup in 1864, Mr. Malm in 1868, Dr. Day and others, in order to -ascertia how it is that ivith advancing age both eyes are found on the coloured side, and the skull appears to bo asymmetrical. These fishes are not much esteemed as foal by tho natives.
Lastly, those which are more preyed upon than predaceous, come in large shoals, and are not only of great importance to man, but are the means of inducing larger fish to come nearer in-shore for the purpose of following the assetnblages of their weaker neighbours,—mullets (Mugilidas), of which tho seas of India possess about 24 species, some of which ascend tidal rivers or frequent the estu aries. As a rule they are esteemed for food when fresh, both by Europeans and natives, except in Canara, where they are objected to on the grounds that their heads resemble those of snakes. Mullets are extensively salted, and also sun-dried. Some attain a considerable size, whild their roes are salted, and considered great delicacies. The pretty little sandsmelts (Atherina), having a. burnished silvery band, are taken in enormous numbers ; but as they rarely exceed three inches in length, they are commonly sun-dried and exported. The Indian whiting (Sillago) arrives in largo assem blages, and is esteemed as a light and wholesome food. The halfbeak (Hemiramphus) is very common, especially during the cold season, while the rocs are largely collected along the Malabar coast. But it is among the herring family that we find seine of the most important of those fishes which not only afford food to man, but to their larger and stronger relatives. As a rule, they abound more on the Malabar than on the Coro mandel coast. The oil-sardine comes in vast numbers, more especially to the western coast, but is uncertain in its movenfents ; occasionally being absent for many consecutive seasons, it returns in enormous numbers. The same may be said of the numerous forms of anchovies, and the great varieties of other genem of the herring family.