Bombay duck
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The Bombay duck (Harpadon nehereus, Bengali: bamaloh, Gujarati: bumla, Marathi: bombil) is a teleost fish, primarily originating in the waters between Mumbai (formerly Bombay) and Kutch in the Arabian Sea. A small number are also found in the Bay of Bengal. The fish is often dried and salted before it is consumed. After drying, the odour of the fish is extremely powerful, and it must consequently be transported in air-tight containers.
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Etymology of the name
The origin of the term Bombay duck is uncertain. Some authors advance the theory that, during the British Raj, the fish was often transported by rail after drying. The story goes that the train compartments of the Bombay Dak (in English, the Bombay Mail) would smell of the fish, consequently leading the British to euphemistically refer to the peculiar smell as the "Bombay Dak". This was supposedly corrupted into "Bombay duck", although the likelihood of this origin is questionable.
The Bombay duck in cuisine
Despite the rather unpleasant odour of the fish, it is often considered to be a delicacy by connoisseurs of Indian cuisine. If freshly caught, it is sometimes eaten fried in a batter; and in its dried form, it is commonly eaten in a curry. It is also prepared into a pickle. The bones of the fish are soft and easily chewable.
European Union restrictions on imports
The importing of Bombay duck was banned by the European Union in 1997, as concerns over its satisfaction of food safety regulations were advanced by senior health officials. However, after a vocal campaign by advocates of the fish, the European Union amended the regulations to permit imports of Bombay duck, provided that it is packaged according to certified standards. According to the BBC, consumption in the United Kingdom prior to the ban was over 13 tonnes per year.
The Bombay duck in religion
According to Hindu mythology, the Bombay duck was the only marine animal that did not help Rama in the building of the bridge between India and Sri Lanka. As a consequence, its bones were mashed to a pulp and the fish condemned.
References
- FishBase: Harpadon nehereus (http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?genusname=Harpadon&speciesname=nehereus)