124 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



the too great increase of predatory creatures, tiger fish 

 are seldom found in such numbers as the other species 

 which exist in the same waters. Looking from above 

 into a clear pool amongst the swarms of yellow fish and 

 smaller fry of all kinds, at most two or three large tiger 

 fish, and a few smaller ones, are to be seen cruising about 

 like men-of-war among a lot of merchantmen and 

 fishing craft. 



They are excellent eating when a little above three 

 pounds in weight, but below that size the number of 

 small, and apparently unattached, bones present is a 

 drawback. 



THE BARBER. This curious and rather repellent- 

 looking creature belongs to the catfish tribe. Its enormous 

 bony head, flat and adorned with long feelers, is almost 

 equal in size to the rest of its body. It is one of the 

 best known fish in Africa, and attains a .length of four 

 or five feet. Unlike the tiger fish, it is a bottom feeder, 

 a lover of deep, still holes, with muddy groundwork. 

 It can be caught with any kind of ground bait, and I have 

 sometimes been successful with the spoon, and once with 

 a salmon fly. When hooked, it makes a tremendous 

 rush, which, when a large fish is concerned, strains rod 

 and tackle to the utmost ; but after this it usually settles 

 down to sulk, seeking the bottom and burying its nose 

 in the mud. A strain on the line may induce another 

 long run, and it will do its best to tangle the line in any 

 drift wood, weeds, or debris collected under the water. 

 If kept on the move, its efforts soon become less strenuous 

 and it can be drawn ashore ; but, having got it there, 

 the angler's difficulties are not yet at an end. In fact, 

 the barber is one of the most difficult creatures in ex- 

 istence to kill, and the only certain way is to cut off his 

 head. If this is not done, he will probably manage to 



