544 ME. G. A. BOULENGEE ON A COLLECTION 



appear never to use a float, although that is the general custom on Victoria Nyanza. 

 When using hook and line alone a bait of stiff paste is used, and it is especially 

 Characinids which are caught in this manner. 



" Torch-light fishing goes on to a considerable extent in various parts of the lake, 

 the larger fish being speared and the smaller caught in hand-nets as they are attracted 

 to the light. At the north end, in particular, an important fishery is carried on for 

 ' dagaa,' a young Clupeid which swims in shoals. Owing to the scarcity of firewood, 

 large bundles of dried reeds are tied together to form a gigantic torch, which projects 

 over the bows of the canoe and is gradually pushed forwards as it burns away. The 

 fish are netted and brought in large quantities to the native markets, while some are 

 sun-dried and disposed of at considerable distances from the lake. 



" Finally, there are different kinds of traps used around Tanganyika. Small conical 

 wicker traps are placed in the rivers and streams, while across the latter, not far from 

 the lake, may be built an elaborate system of traps and barriers to catch the fish 

 proceeding down the stream. Out in the lake itself, particularly towards the southern 

 end, large trilobed basket-traps are used for the purpose of catching the big SiJurid 

 ' singa.' The trap is suspended from a fioat, a few feet under the surface, and is baited 

 with some vegetable substance. In certain districts a great number of such floats may 

 be seen dotting the surface of a bay or inlet." 



POLYPTERID^. 

 1. POLYPTERUS CONGICDS Blgr. 



A single male specimen, 620 millim. long, from Kituta. Native name Munkunga. 

 Dr. Cunnington measured a larger specimen, 710 millim. long. The fish occurs also 

 in the rivers. 



14 spines in the dorsal; 56 scales in a longitudinal series, 46 round the body, 13 

 between the occiput and the origin of the dorsal. The azygous shield between the 

 nasal bones is present. Dr. Cunnington describes the colour as greenish grey above, 

 shading off to lighter below, belly with pinkish tinge ; 8 or 9 black blotches along side 

 of body ; black spots on side of head ; paired fins with dark spots. 



Lepidosieenid^. 



2. Pkotoptekus ^thiopicus Heck. 



One specimen, measuring 485 millim., taken in a native-made wicker trap, baited 

 with vegetable matter, in the Kakonde River, near its mouth in Mtondwe Bay, was 

 brought home by Dr. Cunnington, who also observed another specimen, measuring 

 970 millim., in a river at Moliro. The fish has not been found in the lake itself, and 

 the natives, who call it Som^po, catch it in small muddy streams and say (at Mpala) 



