Bummalo, Bombil, bombili, Boomla, Lote, Loitta
Harpadon nehereus, (common names include Bombay duck, bummalo, bombil, bombili, boomla, lote, loitta) is a species of lizardfish. Adults may reach a maximum length of 40 cm (16 in), but the usual size is around 25 cm (10 in).
In the early days Bombay Duck caught in Bombay used to be discarded. However, this fish was considered a delicacy in Bengal. When the railways began their journey in India, this fish was transported from Bombay to Calcutta. Since they used to get transported in a mail train, the fish got its name Bombay Mail fish (shortened to Bombail or Bombil) or Bombay Daak (Daak is mail in Bengali). Some claim that this name was given by a British official (perhaps Robert Clive, mentioned later) who hated the overpowering smell of the fish in the train. According to local Bangladeshi stories, the term Bombay duck was first coined by Robert Clive, after he tasted a piece during his conquest of Bengal. He is said to have associated the pungent smell with that of the newspapers and mail which would come into the cantonments from Bombay. The term was later popularised among the British public by its appearance in Indian restaurants in the UK.
In his 1829 book of poems and "Indian reminiscences", Sir Toby Rendrag (pseudonym) notes the "use of a fish nick-named 'Bombay Duck'" and the phrase is used in texts as early as 1815.
The Bombay duck lives in the tropical areas of the Indo-Pacific. The fish is also known as "strange fish" because of its discontinuous distribution along the Indian coast. It has been traditionally caught in the waters off Maharashtra, Gujarat in the Lakshadweep Sea, where it is an important item of the yearly catch. This fish is also caught in the Bay of Bengal and in the South China Sea, although in smaller numbers.
The fish is sometimes dried, as well as dried and salted before it is consumed. After drying, the odour of the fish is extremely powerful, and it is usually transported in air-tight containers. The Bombay duck is a popular food item in certain areas of India particularly in Maharashtra. It is consumed as a dried fish in Sri Lanka, either tempered, fried or cooked as a curry. Fresh fish are usually fried as bombay duck fry, or cooked in curry.
