8 
COLLECTING SEA FISH AT MOMBASA 
leaping away some four miles out from land, and one day I 
took a friend with a tarpon rod, reel, and line. We got 
well outside, and trolled with a small two -inch pike spinning- 
bait called a ‘ clipper spinner.’ When about three miles out, 
and in the hundred fathom-line, something took bait and for 
half an hour we had great sport ; the fish never showed himself, 
but his rushes w T ere really serious during the beginning of the 
struggle. On being brought alongside and gaffed, his vitality 
was such that he bent a new strong steel gaff. This fish I 
believe to be the Barracuda and it weighed forty-five pounds ; 
the weight is not great, but the power of the fish far exceeds 
that of any salmon of similar weight. 
The Barracuda is a cosmopolitan fish inhabiting the Indian, 
Atlantic, and Pacific oceans, and is often caught by the dhows 
when they are on passage from Muscat to Zanzibar. 
Provided the boat is going at a sufficient rate of speed, say, 
about eight miles an hour, the Barracuda will take a piece of 
white cloth with a bit of red material sewn on it. Any silver 
spinning-bait with a red tassel seems effective ; also as a natural 
bait, Squid, or a fish very similar to Holacanthus diacanthus 
may be used. Its jaws have most formidable teeth and a steel 
trace is essential to prevent many disappointments. 
In Mombasa waters they are fairly numerous, and at high 
tide I have seen large examples leaping ten feet out of the 
water opposite Kilindini pier. They come up the channel after 
the small sprats and remain in the inshore waters only about 
two hours, i.e. between the turning of the high tide. 
The native name is the ‘ Unguo ’ and three species are 
recognised. 
As a game fish he is well worth trying for, and he is literally 
found just off the pier head at Kilindini. 
The Frontispiece shows the Barracuda caught at Mom- 
basa, and you will observe the great breadth of the tail 
in comparison with that of the body. The Barracuda, I may 
mention, is a resident of Mombasa waters. 
Another sporting fish is the Dolphin fish or ‘ Faloosi ’ of 
the Swahilis, seen in the rough sketch. This is essen- 
tially a migrant and arrives from the north about December, 
and all have passed south by the end of March. They are 
