International Fisheries E-xhibition, 
LONDON, 1883. 
CONFERENCE ON 24TH OCTOBER, 1883. 
ON WEST AFRICAN FISHERIES, WITH 
PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE 
GOLD COAST COLONY. 
In explanation of my acceptance of the invitation of the 
Executive Committee of the International Fisheries Exhi- 
bition to write a Paper on “ West African Fisheries, with 
particular reference to the Gold Coast Colony,” I must 
ask to be allowed to preface what follows by an acknow- 
ledgment of the fact that whatever knowledge of the 
subject I may possess is confined mostly to the breakfast 
and dinner table; and I am doubtful whether in my 
shallowness or taste J am an exception. 
When I ventured to undertake this Paper, it naturally 
first occurred to look about for information, and to thus 
endeavour to reap a harvest on the brains of others ; but to 
my inquiry of unscientific and worldly friends as to what 
they knew of the fish fauna, the invariable answer I received 
was—" At present, my dear fellow, cod is in season,” or 
some like communication. “As regards that awful place 
West Africa, comparatively nothing has been written, for 
the general belief is that even fish won’t live there.” 
Now, on the contrary, much has been written. The 
fauna literature applicable to West Africa is extensive, 
although scattered, and I am, in consequence of limited 
[33] B2 
