1884.] THE REMORA BY NATIVE FISHERMEN. 413 



liunting. In some cases these appendages had evidently remained on 

 for years, during whicli the fisli had so grown that tiie iron had 

 become imbedded in a tliick fleshy formation. In two instances the 

 ring had been inserted in the muscular substance at the root of the 

 tail, but generally a simple iron band was welded round the thinnest 

 part of the body a few inches from the tail, which kept it from 

 slipping off. To this was riveted a small movable ring or loop 

 resembling that of a walch-handle. In one case (fig. 2) this loop 

 was fastened on by servings of brass wire in a similar manner to 

 the rings of a fishing-rod. 



It was some weeks before I succeeded in purchasing one of these 

 fish ; I proposed sending it to the International Fisheries Exhibition, 

 but it was killed by some Cranes ; and a second one which I obtained 

 died, probably through want of sufficient water, it having been placed 

 in a small stone tank, in consequence of my being unable to procure 

 one of the small canoes. 



I afterwards arranged to purchase another on its return from a 

 fishing-trip. It was brought to me a few weeks later minus its ring, 

 and with a large wound or rent above the tail, part of which was gone. 

 The owner declared that it had caught two Turtle, which he showed 

 me lying in his canoe, and that it had afterwards affixed itself to a large 

 Shark and, holding on after all the spare line had been paid out, the 

 tail had given way. He stated that the Chazo had then relinquished 

 its hold and returned in its mutilated state to the boat. He assured 

 me this was not an unusual occurrence, and that after a time a fresh 

 ring would be attached and the fish become as useful as before. I 

 endeavoured to preserve one of these Chazos in spirits of wine, 

 but failed owing to the inferior quality of the spirit. This specimen 

 measured 2 feet 8 inches in length and weighed 3| lbs. The sucker 

 contained twenty-three pairs of lamellae. 



I was anxious to visit the fishing-grounds in order personally to 

 verify the information collected regarding the employment of this 

 fish ; but as the trips made by the fishermen never occupy less tiian 

 fifteen days, my accompanying them was out of the question, and I 

 had no boat sufficiently large to make the voyage safely. 



On my return to Zanzibar, however, I hope to arrange such a 

 visit, and may then be able to supplement tliis paper, which does 

 not pretend to any scientific value, with a full and accurate report 

 on the whole subject. 



In the meantime this short account of what was recently heard 

 and seen as to the use of the Remora on the east coast of Africa 

 may f)erhaps prove useful by directing attention to an interesting 

 zoological question. 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1884, No. XXYIII. 28 



