Pingguo "No-Six Fish"

Pingguo "No-Six Fish"

　　Origin: Pingguo, Guangxi, China.

　　Legend: Many years ago, a farmer fleeing famine discovered this fish in a small cave located about two li southeast of Pingguo County town. The cave is a long, winding grotto, over 70 meters in length, and connects to several small streams near the Youjiang River. This cave often yields a kind of fish that is entirely round-shaped, black on the back and white on the belly, with a small head and small eyes, and a mouth located beneath its head. These fish emerge along with springs, and the largest one weighs no more than six jin, hence the name "No-Six Fish."

　　Habits: The "No-Six Fish" is a bottom-dwelling fish that lives in the dark rivers of caves. It feeds on plankton and aquatic plants on rocks and begins to spawn after reaching a weight of three jin. From November to March of the following year, it enters the main cave along with underground river water and returns to the Youjiang River through side caves — this is the best time to catch them. From May to September, it moves from the Youjiang River into the side caves and flows back into the main cave with the rising water, then disappears, making it very difficult to catch during this period. Because the "No-Six Fish" has lived in dark cave rivers for a long time, it cannot tolerate sunlight and will die soon if exposed to it. The flesh of the "No-Six Fish" is tender, rich, and delicious, whether pan-fried, braised, or stewed, and is a rare and unique specialty fish.