12 
COLLECTING SEA FISH AT MOMBASA 
Sometimes the men, by putting on a careful strain, manage 
to get the Tuna to tow the boat about. 
To get a Tuna aboard, a harpoon is used to spear him when 
alongside ; he is then roughly hauled up to the boat’s side and 
struck on the head till quiet. 
Another way of catching Tuna is to troll for them, with a 
good breeze at, say, six miles an hour. The same hook and line 
are used, and the bait may be a triangular piece of squid or a 
bit of white cloth. 
Both the Mombasa Tuna are greedy for flying fish, but 
it is next to impossible to secure that bait ; but if when a 
Tuna is caught it is cut open there is always the chance of 
finding a freshly swallowed flying-fish. If so, use it. 
The natives recognise three species of Tuna, two of which 
they call 4 Say hay wa,’ and the other 4 Djodari ’ ; the latter is 
the largest and scarcest, and all seem to have traces of yellow 
on the fins and tail, but this colouration varies according to 
species. I could not determine exactly the individual distinc- 
tion of colour, as the native mind cares but little for the exact 
areas of pigmentation found on the fish he catches. 
Two more Game fish deserve notice, which are named the 
4 Tangessi,’ and the 4 Koli Koli ’ ( see Frontispiece). The Tangessi 
are a pike-like fish and are present throughout the year. They 
apparently spawn in these waters, but do not take a bait until 
they are about fifteen pounds in weight, while a large fish 
will scale forty pounds. 
They may be caught both inside and outside the reef. 
For bait employ squid or a silver spoon, and sail at a good 
rate. When hooked they jump vigorously, but are not 
strong fighters. 
The 4 Koli Koli ’ at first sight reminds one of Tuna alalonga , 
the long- finned variety, but though belonging to the same genus 
they are vastly inferior from a sportsman’s point of view. 
These fish are present in Mombasa waters during nine months 
of the year, being absent in August, September, and October. 
In size they run from two pounds to fifty pounds, which 
indicates that they spawn in these waters. 
For bait a live Perch, resembling a sea Perch and called 
‘ Tawa ’ by the Swahilis, is the best ; the hook is passed 
