Fishes are well known by the people of the world. Thousands of various types of fishes are found in seas, rivers and ponds. There are various colours of fishes. Sea fishes are used as food. Parts of fishes are also used in medicine.
In India, mostly river and pond fishes are used as food; but sea fishes are used as food by the people of coastal states of Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The favourite fishes eaten in India are Hilsa, Kattla and Rui etc.
Fishes are reared in rivers, ponds, marshes and lakes. They are rich in food value. Various vitamins, proteins and fats are found in fishes. Sea fishes are mostly large. Oily medicines are prepared from sea fishes. India exports large quantities of fishes, especially prawns, for earning foreign exchange.
The largest fish is the shark. The whale is not a fish, but a mammal.
