NILE ANGLING 225 



or cat-fish, is doubtless the "coor" of Sir Samuel Baker 

 (see Nile Tributaries, p. 225) Clarias niloticus. 



The angler's chief prize on the Nile is, of course, the 

 " Aigel " or Nile-perch (Lates niloticus] v - a splendid 

 game-fish with eyes like rubies and huge silvery scales, 

 which runs like a salmon and of quite unascertained 

 dimensions. Near Khartoum it has been taken on rod 

 and line up to 70 or 80 lb., and in the Albert Nyanza 

 there is an authentic record of one so captured that 

 weighed 198 lb. But very much heavier examples have 

 been secured though not necessarily by the rod. Thus 

 Mr Butler killed one that, on a newly received weighing- 

 machine, scaled 245 lb., and measured : 



Length (straight) . . .6 feet i \ inches. 

 Girth 4 9 



Mr Butler further tells me he has had skulls of Nile- perch 

 that indicated owners of much greater dimensions than 

 those just given. So it is conceivable that the species 

 may eventually prove to reach 300 or 400 lb. in weight. 

 The Nile- perch is caught either by spinning or live- 

 baiting; but having had no personal experience with it, 

 will say no more. 



1 This is the " Baggar " of Sir Samuel Baker. 



CAUGHT AT LAKE No, February gth, 1913. 

 Length, 15 inches : bluish above, silvery below ; pectoral fins blood-red. 



