COLLECTING SEA FISH AT MOMBASA 
These creels are made of coco-nut and palm-leaf strips, 
and are very durable, but must be thoroughly dried twice a 
month. 
Then they have large drag-nets taking a dozen men to haul. 
These are made of the same material as the fish creels. They 
are put out from a boat in about five feet of water, in a semi- 
circle, and the total length of rope and net will be some eighty 
yards. 
During the process of dragging the net in, three men go out 
to the furthest end and remain under water as much as possible, 
clearing the net from the coral boulders. I noticed that the 
variety of fish taken was always very poor, but the men were 
well repaid by the quantity. 
I collected over 200 fish, each representing a different 
species, sub-species, or variety, but as I possess no particular 
ichthyological training my determinations in many cases may 
be wrong. 
I take it that pronounced and recurrent differences in 
markings, such as maculation, lines of colour, and angle of gill 
slit, constitute what are termed good characteristics, and on 
this assumption I base my 200 or more distinct varieties of fish. 
I do not propose to enter into any minute description, but 
simply to give my general ideas and observations on some of 
the species found in Mombasa waters. 
There are about twenty-two local or annual species which 
are always present in the vicinity of Mombasa. Then you have 
two great immigrations, one from the north with the north- 
east monsoon, and the other from the south with the south- 
west monsoon. 
During the short time (a little over two months) that I was 
actively engaged in collecting, I secured 112 specimens of fish, 
which I believe to be part of the northern lot, and some 
68 specimens which most undoubtedly arrived from the south 
shortly after the south-west monsoon broke. 
The period of the north-east monsoon ranges from December 
to March, and that of the south-west monsoon from April to 
October, and it is during this period that the rainy season 
occurs. 
The direct cause of any wide movement of animal life is 
