46 
India. In the years 1845-46, 8770 cwt. of sharks’ fins were 
exported from Bombay to China. 
Rays—like to the A etobatis—known in Fantee as Tantray, 
are to be plentifully found on the West Coast of Africa, in 
the Gulf of Guinea, towards the end of the year, and in 
company with shoals of small fish. They are at times 
caught in the hand-nets. Natives are much afraid of the 
attacks from this fish, as the caudal spine has been found 
to be poisonous, and has inflicted wounds which have 
proved fatal. Such wounds can be, it is said, however, 
successfully treated, when handled in time, by the natives, 
who use for the purpose the powdered caudal spine of like 
fish, mixed, with certain leaves and herbs. 
I have with me the caudal spine of a small sting-ray, . 
which was removed from the side of a fisherman of Quittah, 
Gold Coast. In lifting the fish into the canoe, it struck him, 
the spine remaining inthe wound. Six hours later the man 
was seen by one of the Colonial surgeons, when the wound 
presented a very discoloured, unhealthy appearance. The 
man died six days later from empycema caused by the 
wound. ; 
Writing of the poison organs of certain fish, Dr. Giinther 
has stated, “ That such organs are found in the sting-rays, 
the tail of which is armed with one or more powerful 
barbed spines. Although they lack a special organ 
secreting poison, or a canal in or on the spine by which 
the venomous fluid is conducted, the symptoms caused by 
a wound from the spine of a sting-ray are such as cannot 
be accounted for, merely by the mechanical laceration, the 
pain being intense, and the subsequent inflammation and 
swelling of the wounded part terminating not rarely in 
gangrene.” This fish is cured in the manner already 
