Eyes should be bright, clear, and bulging and look alive rather than dull, cloudy, or sunken. Scales, if they exist, should be securely attached. If scaled, the skin should be shinning (not slimy), and resilient when pressed with the tip of the finger. If the fish is gutted (as it should be if dead for more than an hour), the stomach cavity should be free of excess residue. Any exposed flesh should be firm and lustrous, not flabby or dull, and should cling tenaciously to any bone. When the fish is held horizontally by head and tail, the midsection should not sag appreciably.

** Asian Recipes **