History of the Local Names of Cape Fish. 223 
where it is frequently found ; by others that the Rock takes its name 
from the fish. This latter seems to be the most probable derivation, 
Roman being simply a corruption of Rooi-man. This is apparently 
lost sight of in the redundancy Red-Roman sometimes heard. 
The fish now called Silver-fish is a strikingly red fish, though 
exhibiting a silvery sheen when fresh. It is so called in Table Bay 
and False Bay, while in Algoa Bay the name is applied (quite appro- 
priately) to the Seventy-four. The ‘“ Gold-fish”’ described by Kolbe 
in 1738 seems to be the Cape Town Silver-fish, while his ‘ Silver- 
fish’ corresponds well with the present ‘“ Zee-basje’’ of Cape 
Town. At Port Elizabeth it is not called Silver-fish, but Kapenaar. 
Other names derived from colours are the Blue-fish, the Gold- 
stripe-fish, the Keelbek (yellow mouth), the Geel-haai, the Geel-staart 
already noticed, the Geeloogie (yellow eye), and the Streep-visch. 
The John Brown and Jacob Swart stand in a category by them- 
selves. There is no reason to believe that the former is in any 
way connected with the hero of the American song, or that the latter 
has any individual reference. The names appear to refer simply to 
the colour of these fish. 
3. Names derived from striking peculiarities of colour, shape, &e. 
We come now to a different class of names. European fish and 
land animals have been drawn upon for names, but as there is only 
a limited number of either of these at all resembling South African 
fish the borrowing process was necessarily a limited one, and new 
names had to be invented. 
Cape fish are, however, particularly adapted to this process. A 
European, accustomed to the sombre hues of northern forms, is at 
once struck by the number of fish with bright colours, red being 
prominent. This is reflected in the names Red Stumpneus, Red 
Steenbras, Roman (= Roi-man), Rooi-Knorhaan, Roie. The Silver- 
fish, Panga, and Jacopever, are also strikingly red fish, though they 
have got their names otherwise. 
Other names have been derived from various peculiarities, and 
have only to be mentioned to show their origin. Such are Dik- 
kopje, Dik-bekje, Stompneus, Baardman (from a barbel or feeler 
under the lower jaw), Haarde-staart, Grunter, Klip Zuiger (from its 
habit of adhering to rocks), Stink-fish, Springer. 
The name Drill-visch is apparently from the Dutch “ trillen,” to 
tremble. It is also called the EHlectric-fish. Both names refer to 
the unique method of defence or offence possessed by this fish. 
One name in this section is of peculiar interest, as it illustrates a 
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