Gold Coast Colony. 



167 



Against the consumption of locally-caught fish, it may be [interesting to have by way 

 of comparison the value of imported fish, which I give for two years : 



There has been no exportation of fish naturally. Imported fish, which is brought mainly 

 from the United Kingdom, Germany, and America, is chiefly represented by tinned and 

 smoked salmon, lobster, sardines, salt cod and ling, red herrings, and mackerel; and is 

 supplied to meet the taste of Europeans and Europeanized natives. The aborigines, as a 

 rule, prefer their own fish. 



The fishing craft of the colony is represented altogether by the canoe, " the dug-out," of 

 varying sizes, regulated by the number of persons carried, viz. from 5 to 1. Canoes most 

 frequently used are those for three persons ; they are propelled by paddles, the shapes of 

 which vary tribally, the occupant (or occupants) resting on his knees, on his haunches, or 

 standing erect. 



Sea fishermen usually pursue their avocations in the day; they rarely work at night; 

 but to this rule there are exceptions, while in the lagoons freshwater fishing is conducted 

 at times both day and night. 



Edible oysters are found both in beds, on the rocks running out into the sea, which are 

 uncovered at low tide, and on trees (the mangrove). , 



The curing of shrimps and herrings forms a large industry, and represents a considerable 

 trade within the colony* and beyond its border. 



The people suifer much from cutaneous diseases and uloerations which are attributed to 

 the condition of the fish diet on which they, as a rule, have to depend. The primitive 

 and defective system of curing must lose after a time its efficacy, and thus deleterious 

 effects have been traced to imperfect or bad curing of fish, such as herrings, which the 

 natives of the Gold Coast Colony principally consume. 



The following general nomenclature, taken from blue books and other records,' is given of 

 (1) the fish, (2) Crustacea, and (3) molluscs caught : 



(1) Albicore, bonito, barracouta, bream, catfish, flying-fish, " grouper," herring, "jo," mullet, 

 mackerel, " shinenoze," skate, snapper, sole, sword-fish, sprat, turbot, whitebait, electric fish. 



(2) Shrimps, crabs, lobsters. 



(3) Oysters, mud, rock, and mangrove. 



Different species of sharks abound. The manatee is also plentiful. 



Operations for the capture of the different forms of marine and freshwater life are con- 

 ducted as a general rule by canoes, and effected by the following means Miniature 

 models of the fishing gear, collected and presented by the writer, are to be found in the 

 "Western Gallery of the Exhibition. 



1. Fish traps, bamboo baskets. 



2. Drag nets of pine apple or other fibre. 



3. Hand nets of pine apple or other fibre. 



4. Shrimp baskets of split bamboo. 



5. Shrimp or freshwater shell fish net. 



6. Matting or bamboo grating for encircling shallow ground and for entrapping fish. 



7. Manatus trap. 



8. Kroo canoe, for one. 



9. Hand nets corresponding with our" landing nets. 

 10. Native fishing pot. 



12. Native water scoop for baling purposes. 



13. Native-made (of fibre) fishing line. 



14. Whips made of the skin of the manatus. 



15. Hand trawl net. 



The introductory object of this memorandum and want of space and time will not permit 

 me to dwell here at further length on a subject of such interest and importance generally, 

 but particularly so to the natives of the West Coast of Africa. 



Westerford, Church Eoad, Richmond, Surrey 

 24 September, 1883. 



ALFBED MOLONEY. 



