COLLECTING SEA FISH AT MOMBASA 
11 
can afford the leisure to try various forms of bait with rod 
and line. 
The Sayhaywa, i.e. T. maculatus or yellow-finned Tuna, are 
present till the beginning of March and are always found in 
deep water, about three to five miles out at sea. They range 
in size from twelve to eighty pounds and their length runs from 
two to four feet, but they increase very disproportionately in 
girth as they develop. They are often seen jumping after 
flying fish, and they clear a height out of the water of some 
five to six feet. 
With regard to the native method of capture, the fishermen 
first catches about ten pounds’ weight of a Sardine-like fish 
called ‘ Seemu,’ with a hand seine -net. As they are released 
from the net they are transferred into a special basket covered 
with sacking, which is secured to the gunwale of the boat, 
and immersed in the sea. When the desired amount of fish have 
been caught they proceed to sea, and when far enough out lower 
sail and mast and drift with the tide. A few of the live Sardines 
are then let loose and a handful more are taken and mushed up 
in the hands under the water. 1 This is done to create a smell 
of oil. The process is kept up at intervals of a quarter of an 
hour ; and, when Tuna shows up, one Sardine fish is quickly 
placed on a hook by passing the same through both eyes, and is 
cast out. A live bait, so secured, will remain alive for 
about half an hour, and as long as it is alive there is a 
chance of a Tuna taking it, but they never take a dead 
natural bait. 
When hooked, the Tuna never shows himself, but rushes 
straight away, though without any sound. 
There is about 240 fathoms of strong line coiled in the 
boat and about three-quarters of this is allowed to run out. 
Then pressure is applied by hand and the fish is checked, and, 
if possible, hauled in a bit. When a rush is made again the 
line is let go, and so it goes on for two or three hours with a 
big fish. 
Often they think the fish is lost, but it is only rushing 
towards the boat, and the surprise is very sudden to him 
who is handling the line. 
1 I believe this is also practised in California and termed ‘ Chumming.’ 
