FISHERIES 249 



hood which is beginning to produce resuks. Carp and salmon have 

 been developed in Madagascar with results which are interesting 

 in view of the problems discussed below, caused by the introduction 

 of new species. 



BELGIAN 



In the Belgian Congo, with its short seaboard, sea fisheries are 

 of slight importance, but the inland rivers and lakes are a source of 

 food for natives. The fisheries have been described by Goffin ( 1 909) 

 and Wilverth (191 1). Most of the river fisheries appear to be still 

 in their primitive condition, but several of the rift valley lakes lying 

 between Belgian and British territory have been exploited in order 

 to provide food for labourers in the mines nearby. On Lake Albert, 

 which is near the Kilomoto gold-mines, there has been a fishery for 

 some twelve years, and motor-boats, nets and other gear have 

 been imported. It is said, however, that overfishing has nearly 

 exhausted those parts of the lake in Belgian territory which are 

 easily accessible. This emphasizes the importance of control. A 

 similar fishery was flourishing at the south end of Lake Edward 

 until it was closed down, when the area became included in the 

 Pare National Albert. In connection with the scientific explora- 

 tion of the pare, mentioned in Chapter VIII, H. Damas (1937), 

 has made an extensive hydrobiological investigation of Lakes Kivu, 

 Edward, and Ndalaga. Further work of a similar nature is con- 

 templated for Lake Tanganyika, and this, coupled with studies on 

 freshwater fish of the Congo which are proceeding at the Musee du 

 Congo Beige at Tervueren, will provide an invaluable basis for 

 fishery developments. A fact of some interest from the economic 

 point of view is that during the past few years it has been profitable 

 to transport fish caught on the Red Sea coast of the Sudan half 

 across Africa, by rail to Khartoum and thence by road and steamer 

 to Kilomoto, south-west of Lake Albert. 



THE INTRODUCTION OF FRESHWATER FISH 



The oceans, being all in communication, have acquired a 

 natural balance of life through the ages, with the result that every 

 available habitat is already occupied fully by fish best suited to it, 



