Belone belone, a fish of the Mediterranean and E. Atlantic which is remarkably thin, with a needle-like beak, and capable of planing along the surface of the water and even leaping over low rocks. It has a maximum length of 75 cm (30″) and its body is thick enough to yield good fillets of flesh, suitable for poaching or frying. However, its bones are green, not just greenish but a good strong viridian, and this puts many people off eating it, although it is perfectly wholesome.
The Indo-Pacific harbours several species of garfish, of which Tylosurus crocodilus may be taken as typical. It is longer than Belone belone, but otherwise similar and an equally fast swimmer.
Alan Davidson was a distinguished author and publisher, and one of the world's best-known writers on fish and fish cookery. In 1975 he retired early from the diplomatic service—after serving in, among other places, Washington, Egypt, Tunisia, and Laos, where he was British Ambassador—to pursue a fruitful second career as a food historian and food writer extraordinaire. Among his popular books are Seafood of South-East Asia, North Atlantic Seafood, and Mediterranean Seafood. In 2003, shortly before his death, he was awarded the Erasmus Prize for his contribution to European culture.
