366 TROPICAL WILD LIFE IN BRITISH GUIANA 



to try fisherman's luck. The best way to catch the perai, 

 we soon found, was to fish from a boat anchored a- few yards 

 from shore, where the mud bars shelved steeply down into 

 deep water. The fish seemed to swarm along this steep bank, 

 while fewer splashed about in the shallows nearer the forest 

 clad shore. Usually the bait was the flesh and entrails of 

 some bird or animal, though, excellent as any, were the en- 

 trails of the fish itself. 



It was best to use a long line with the bait hanging with- 

 in a few inches of the bottom. The usual procedure of the 

 fish was to nibble feebly for a few moments and then strike 

 and strike hard. Sometimes they would strike without any 

 preliminary warning. 



As a game fish it is not one that will, except possibly 

 for a few moments, delight the heart of the angler. After 

 the first few rushes the fight is over and the fish comes meekly 

 to the surface. The fisherman must be careful to keep a 

 taut line, for, at the slightest slackening, away goes the 

 quarry; he must strike hard to make fast the hook for the 

 perai has a mouth of bone, against which the point turns as 

 if made of lead, or snaps off like the head of a match struck 

 too hard against the box. A. strong wire leader must be used. 

 Even then, I have seen the villainous teeth click together on 

 a piece of phospho-bronze and, as easily as a pair of wire 

 nippers, snap it in two. 



The fish in the boat is nearly as bad as the fish in the 

 water. One must be very careful not to place any portion 

 of his anatomy too near, or, with a flop, the perai will seize 

 it. He seems to use a certain amount of cunning. If a fin- 

 ger touches his body he will not make a motion until it is 

 within reach of his jaws. Then, with a twist or turn, he 

 snaps, brings his teeth together with a sharp click, and it 

 goes hard with the finger that is between them. 



The Indian seldom uses a hook to catch them, for hooks 

 fastened to ordinary line are quickly snapped off, and they 

 are articles of too great value to be lightly thrown away. 



