PERCH-LIKE FISHES 137 



Biden states that the Snoek " singles out a small fish and 

 pursues it for as long as half a minute at a time. . . . The 

 motive for singling out an individual fish is apparent. A big 

 fish has greater speed and stamina than a very small one, and 

 in the prolonged chase the prey's powers of endurance naturally 

 weaken. . . . Fishermen often see a sardine leap 2 or 3 

 feet, and the pursuing snoek also leap and continue the chase 

 immediately both have fallen into the water. The snoek does 

 not leap voluntarily ; the impetus carries it clear of the water. 

 At times the sight is common when scores and sometimes 

 hundreds of snoek behave in this peculiar way ; and there are 

 authentic instances of a snoek following a sardine and leaping 

 right into the fishermen's boat ". 



The strong jaws and formidable array of teeth make a 

 living Snoek a nasty customer to handle, and the fishermen 

 treat it with respect, nearly always despatching large fish by 

 a blow on the head with a baton of wood. It is said that a 

 bite from this fish produces profuse bleeding that may last 

 for a day or more, and it has been suggested that this fact 

 may be due to the presence of something in the nature of an 

 anti-clotting ferment in the secretions of the mouth. 



Nothing is known of the breeding habits of the Snoek, and 

 the very young fish are rarely seen. 



It is a valued food-fish and the object of extensive fisheries 

 conducted by means of hook and line. As it takes -a bait 

 readily, large hauls are sometimes made during the Snoek 

 season. Few of the fish are eaten fresh, as the flesh is soft, 

 and, unless cooked carefully, not particularly palatable. The 

 bulk of the catch is salted and cured. Snoek are not good 

 sporting fishes, for, although they bite readily, their fighting 

 qualities are poor. 



In Australia and New Zealand this fish is known as " Barra- 

 couta " — a name generally reserved for a totally different fish 

 (see p. 169) — and in Chile as " Sierra ". The name " Snoek " 

 in Holland is used for the common fresh-water Pike, and was 

 given to the South African fish by the early Dutch settlers, 

 who saw in it a resemblance to the Pike of their own country. 

 The scientific name, Thyrsites, means " like a goad or straight 

 staff or a wand ", according to Mr. Biden ; that is to say, 

 ai p-nosed or pointed fish ". 



