10 
Sternoptychide, Astronesthes—the same genera occupy the 
Tropical Atlantic as well as the Indo-Pacific. 
“The pelagic fauna of the tropics gradually passes into that 
of the temperate zones, only a few genera, like Cybium, Psenes 
and Antennarius, being almost entirely confined to the tropics.” 
Among the fish off and within this coast line, I may explain 
ordinarily, are met sharks, cat-fish, albacore, bonito, rays, 
blennies, barracouta, grey mullet, ctenopoma allied to the 
climbing perch, the “ fighting fish,” flat-fish, carp, flying fish, 
electric fish, herring, anchovy, mud-fish, eels, “shine-noze,” 
“rock cod,” sun fish, “ globe fish,” perch, mackerel, sword- 
fish, dolphin, pilchard, &c. 
Most of the works one takes up on this part of Africa 
point to the importance of the fresh-water fish industry as 
a means of support for the natives, and many allude to the 
grand sea-fish field represented by the tropical Eastern 
Atlantic. 
Bosman, in his ‘Coast of Guinea,’ written nearly two 
hundred years ago, affords particulars of the value of sea 
and fresh-water fish to the natives. 
‘Tucker, in his ‘Narrative on Expedition to the River 
Zaire, dwells upon the “swarms” of albacore, . bonito, 
and other fish met with in the Gulf of Guinea, on the 
voyage in 1816 of the “Congo,” as also of the importance 
and richness of the fish field of the river of same name 
(the then Zaire, now Congo). 
Bowdich and Dupuis testify to the quantity of fish to be 
met with in the rivers of the Ashantee kingdom and of the 
other surrounding countries, and of its necessity as an 
article of food. 
Bowen, in his interesting ‘Central Africa, alludes to 
frequently seeing fish exposed for sale in different interior 
