10 



gives the following account of "Tetraodon ocettatus Lin!' 

 "This fish (he relates) is one of the finest I ever saw, but 

 so poisonous, that whoever eats of it, generally dies in 

 two hours time. The Chinese, who affirmed the fact, 

 seeing me take the fish into my hands, earnestly desired 

 me to wash myself, adding, that it is forbidden under 

 some great penalty, to be sold among other fish." 



The Tetraodon of the Red Sea, described and figured 

 as T. Honkenyi, by E. Ruppel,* differs from our fish, as 

 will be found on comparison. The Cape species is 

 evidently identical with that of Bloch, and it is probable, 

 that this naturalist received his specimen, not from the 

 East Indies, as he states, but from this Colony, the more 

 so, as no more specimens, I believe, have ever been 

 obtained from that quarter. 



The characteristic features, which distinguish our fish, 

 from that of the Red Sea, are a protruding lower jaw, 

 rounded tail and pectoral fins, and a different hue. 



By the Cape fishermen, the Agriopi (Paardevisch ; 

 Sea-horse), of which we have three very distinct varieties, 

 are also said to be poisonous. The truth of this asser- 

 tion, which is the mere result of imbecility and popular 

 prejudice, I do not hesitate to contradict ; but CuviEitf 

 must have been greatly misinformed, in stating, that 

 these fishes are eaten by the Cape Colonists. 



The importance of fish as an article of commerce, is 

 by no means insignificant at the Cape. Its several fishing 

 establishments, afford a livelihood and occupation to a 

 number of persons, belonging chiefly to the lower class. 

 Much more could be effected, but for the heavy expenses 

 attending this branch of colonial industry, produced by 

 the comparative want of manual labour. The principal 

 foreign market for our fish-trade is the Mauritius, to 



* Atlas zur Reise im nordlichen Africa. Fische, Tab. 17. 

 f Mistoire des Poissons. IV. pag. 387. 



