EIGENMANN: THE FRESHWATER FISHES OF BRITISH GUIANA 



39 



richest ground was found in the brook on Gluck Island and the slough between the 

 sand-bank and the shore of the river. A haul made at night on the sand-bar was 

 also very successful. 



A portion of a letter describing my first day at Rockstone follows : 



Fig. 9. View on bayou back of Christianburg. Indian fishing from his corial. 



September 30th, 1908. 



" Very early in the morning I engaged two Indians who were on a balata boat waiting for a 

 crew to go up the Rupununi. They did not know English, neither did they know how to fish, and 

 I got exasperated, till Shideler went in to show them. Hereafter I shall always dress to go into the 

 water myself. We worked faithfully along the stelling and below, with the poorest success I ever 

 had anywhere. We could see fishes galore, one especially (Chalceus ?nacrolepidotus) lustrous plum- 

 beous, with the most gorgeous, maroon colored fins, flaunted its colors in my face, but it was im- 

 possible to get at it. At ten we came to the hotel, I completely dead beat, for this was the place 

 where we were told we should 'catch fishes.' 



"As we were waiting for breakfast a band of Indians came along, a man and about six girls and 

 women. After parleying it turned out that they were going to poison a creek. We asked them to 



