MDPOD - Masson du Parc Online Database

This memoir was sent to Mr LuNoir, commander in the Indies. 1725. Memoir for Madagascar and Bourbon Island. Fishing in general. What species can be fished around Bourbon Island off the coast and along the coast of Mozambique, if they are fished during specific seasons of the year? What types of boats are used, their rigging and the number of crew members? Whether fishing takes place on the open sea or far from the coast. Whether herring, sardines, anchovies and bonito are seen at sea. Whether small-scale fishing takes place along the coast and at river mouths. [?] Which fish species are the most abundant and which are only passing through. Which are the best quality. Do the islanders and Africans consider fish to be good food and is it sought after? Are fish caught for salting and if so, whether this salting done in the same way as Europeans salt cod and herring? Whether trout, salmon, sturgeon, shad, lamprey and other similar fish are found in the rivers of both the islands and the mainland, entering the rivers from the sea or leaving the fresh water to go into the salt water. A list of fish common along these coasts, noting as far as possible their French names and those given to them by the natives of the bay, and the season in which they appear in these seas and in this bay. Fortuitous and accidental catches. Whether whales are often seen in the seas off the coast of Languebar and the Dauphines des Bourbons Islands. If they are caught, what do the fishermen do with the remaines of these fish? If large numbers of porpoises are seen there and if they are fished in any way. The use made of their flesh and fat. If there are large, rare or unknown cetacean fish in these seas. If sea monsters are seen there. That we [?] make drawings of them as accurate as possible. Ambergris. If ambergris is found in these seas in certain seasons, only accidentally.

This memoir was sent to Mr LuNoir, commander in the Indies. 1725. Memoir for Madagascar and Bourbon Island. Fishing in general. What species can be fished around Bourbon Island off the coast and along the coast of Mozambique, if they are fished during specific seasons of the year? What types of boats are used, their rigging and the number of crew members? Whether fishing takes place on the open sea or far from the coast. Whether herring, sardines, anchovies and bonito are seen at sea. Whether small-scale fishing takes place along the coast and at river mouths. [?] Which fish species are the most abundant and which are only passing through. Which are the best quality. Do the islanders and Africans consider fish to be good food and is it sought after? Are fish caught for salting and if so, whether this salting done in the same way as Europeans salt cod and herring? Whether trout, salmon, sturgeon, shad, lamprey and other similar fish are found in the rivers of both the islands and the mainland, entering the rivers from the sea or leaving the fresh water to go into the salt water. A list of fish common along these coasts, noting as far as possible their French names and those given to them by the natives of the bay, and the season in which they appear in these seas and in this bay. Fortuitous and accidental catches. Whether whales are often seen in the seas off the coast of Languebar and the Dauphines des Bourbons Islands. If they are caught, what do the fishermen do with the remaines of these fish? If large numbers of porpoises are seen there and if they are fished in any way. The use made of their flesh and fat. If there are large, rare or unknown cetacean fish in these seas. If sea monsters are seen there. That we [?] make drawings of them as accurate as possible. Ambergris. If ambergris is found in these seas in certain seasons, only accidentally.

This memoir was sent to Mr LuNoir, commander in the Indies. 1725. Memoir for Madagascar and Bourbon Island. Fishing in general. What species can be fished around Bourbon Island off the coast and along the coast of Mozambique, if they are fished during specific seasons of the year? What types of boats are used, their rigging and the number of crew members? Whether fishing takes place on the open sea or far from the coast. Whether herring, sardines, anchovies and bonito are seen at sea. Whether small-scale fishing takes place along the coast and at river mouths. [?] Which fish species are the most abundant and which are only passing through. Which are the best quality. Do the islanders and Africans consider fish to be good food and is it sought after? Are fish caught for salting and if so, whether this salting done in the same way as Europeans salt cod and herring? Whether trout, salmon, sturgeon, shad, lamprey and other similar fish are found in the rivers of both the islands and the mainland, entering the rivers from the sea or leaving the fresh water to go into the salt water. A list of fish common along these coasts, noting as far as possible their French names and those given to them by the natives of the bay, and the season in which they appear in these seas and in this bay. Fortuitous and accidental catches. Whether whales are often seen in the seas off the coast of Languebar and the Dauphines des Bourbons Islands. If they are caught, what do the fishermen do with the remaines of these fish? If large numbers of porpoises are seen there and if they are fished in any way. The use made of their flesh and fat. If there are large, rare or unknown cetacean fish in these seas. If sea monsters are seen there. That we [?] make drawings of them as accurate as possible. Ambergris. If ambergris is found in these seas in certain seasons, only accidentally.

This memoir was sent to Mr LuNoir, commander in the Indies. 1725. Memoir for Madagascar and Bourbon Island. Fishing in general. What species can be fished around Bourbon Island off the coast and along the coast of Mozambique, if they are fished during specific seasons of the year? What types of boats are used, their rigging and the number of crew members? Whether fishing takes place on the open sea or far from the coast. Whether herring, sardines, anchovies and bonito are seen at sea. Whether small-scale fishing takes place along the coast and at river mouths. [?] Which fish species are the most abundant and which are only passing through. Which are the best quality. Do the islanders and Africans consider fish to be good food and is it sought after? Are fish caught for salting and if so, whether this salting done in the same way as Europeans salt cod and herring? Whether trout, salmon, sturgeon, shad, lamprey and other similar fish are found in the rivers of both the islands and the mainland, entering the rivers from the sea or leaving the fresh water to go into the salt water. A list of fish common along these coasts, noting as far as possible their French names and those given to them by the natives of the bay, and the season in which they appear in these seas and in this bay. Fortuitous and accidental catches. Whether whales are often seen in the seas off the coast of Languebar and the Dauphines des Bourbons Islands. If they are caught, what do the fishermen do with the remaines of these fish? If large numbers of porpoises are seen there and if they are fished in any way. The use made of their flesh and fat. If there are large, rare or unknown cetacean fish in these seas. If sea monsters are seen there. That we [?] make drawings of them as accurate as possible. Ambergris. If ambergris is found in these seas in certain seasons, only accidentally.

If, after storms, large pieces of amber are found as in other seas? If fishermen go to the sea or coastal residents along the coast to look for amber, as the Indians do, or if they find it by chance. If there is any way to make this known.To fishermen and sailors, make an in detail figure of floating amber to inform them. Note the feelings of Africans and [Colous?] about the formation of amber, where they believe it comes from, and how it is formed. We need details about this production to report to the various people who wear it. From the produce of foreign fisheries. Whether European and other traders bring to Dauphin Island and along the coast of Zanzibar goods from their fisheries and from which nations these traders are. Whether these goods are sardines or fish from fisheries operated by Europeans or others, what species they are, and whether the trade is sought after and profitable for those who engage in it. Whether amber, coral and other goods are traded there, and where these goods go once they arrive. What kinds of goods are loaded and unloaded in the islands and along the coast of Africa by those who trade there. Details of anything that may be relevant to passive trade that may take place along the coast in relation to goods for foreign fishing. Shells and seashells. Whether the coasts of Zanzibar and those of the islands of the same walls are laden with many or few shells. Whether the coastal inhabitants collect them for their own consumption. If they are of good quality and which areas are the most abundant. If certain species are usually fished in particular seasons. If mussels and oysters are found and if they are used. If mother-of-pearl or pearl oysters are found and if they produce beautiful pearls. A list of the names of the most common seabirds and maritime birds on the coast. Whether any species similar to scoters are caught, which are eaten as duck breast on days of abstinence. Whether seaweed, kelp or seaweed are of any use there. The person who will take the rest at the bottom of the Surat Memorandum.

If, after storms, large pieces of amber are found as in other seas? If fishermen go to the sea or coastal residents along the coast to look for amber, as the Indians do, or if they find it by chance. If there is any way to make this known.To fishermen and sailors, make an in detail figure of floating amber to inform them. Note the feelings of Africans and [Colous?] about the formation of amber, where they believe it comes from, and how it is formed. We need details about this production to report to the various people who wear it. From the produce of foreign fisheries. Whether European and other traders bring to Dauphin Island and along the coast of Zanzibar goods from their fisheries and from which nations these traders are. Whether these goods are sardines or fish from fisheries operated by Europeans or others, what species they are, and whether the trade is sought after and profitable for those who engage in it. Whether amber, coral and other goods are traded there, and where these goods go once they arrive. What kinds of goods are loaded and unloaded in the islands and along the coast of Africa by those who trade there. Details of anything that may be relevant to passive trade that may take place along the coast in relation to goods for foreign fishing. Shells and seashells. Whether the coasts of Zanzibar and those of the islands of the same walls are laden with many or few shells. Whether the coastal inhabitants collect them for their own consumption. If they are of good quality and which areas are the most abundant. If certain species are usually fished in particular seasons. If mussels and oysters are found and if they are used. If mother-of-pearl or pearl oysters are found and if they produce beautiful pearls. A list of the names of the most common seabirds and maritime birds on the coast. Whether any species similar to scoters are caught, which are eaten as duck breast on days of abstinence. Whether seaweed, kelp or seaweed are of any use there. The person who will take the rest at the bottom of the Surat Memorandum.

If, after storms, large pieces of amber are found as in other seas? If fishermen go to the sea or coastal residents along the coast to look for amber, as the Indians do, or if they find it by chance. If there is any way to make this known.To fishermen and sailors, make an in detail figure of floating amber to inform them. Note the feelings of Africans and [Colous?] about the formation of amber, where they believe it comes from, and how it is formed. We need details about this production to report to the various people who wear it. From the produce of foreign fisheries. Whether European and other traders bring to Dauphin Island and along the coast of Zanzibar goods from their fisheries and from which nations these traders are. Whether these goods are sardines or fish from fisheries operated by Europeans or others, what species they are, and whether the trade is sought after and profitable for those who engage in it. Whether amber, coral and other goods are traded there, and where these goods go once they arrive. What kinds of goods are loaded and unloaded in the islands and along the coast of Africa by those who trade there. Details of anything that may be relevant to passive trade that may take place along the coast in relation to goods for foreign fishing. Shells and seashells. Whether the coasts of Zanzibar and those of the islands of the same walls are laden with many or few shells. Whether the coastal inhabitants collect them for their own consumption. If they are of good quality and which areas are the most abundant. If certain species are usually fished in particular seasons. If mussels and oysters are found and if they are used. If mother-of-pearl or pearl oysters are found and if they produce beautiful pearls. A list of the names of the most common seabirds and maritime birds on the coast. Whether any species similar to scoters are caught, which are eaten as duck breast on days of abstinence. Whether seaweed, kelp or seaweed are of any use there. The person who will take the rest at the bottom of the Surat Memorandum.

What species of fish do the Negroes and other inhabitants catch during the year on this coast of Africa? Is all the fish they catch consumed solely by the fishermen, or do they trade some of it? What species of fish are caught in the rivers of Senegal and Gambia and other estuaries? Is there a fixed season for fishing the fish caught there, or are they fished throughout the year? Is the coastline rich in fish, and if so, what species? Are there many mackerel and sardines, and if so, what species, and are they commonly fished off the coast of Guinea as they are further north towards Cap Blanc? Whether whales are often seen off the coast of Guinea and whether they sometimes wash ashore. Whether there are large numbers of porpoises. Whether extraordinary sea monsters are seen or have been seen on occasion. Whether any have been seen or caught that resemble what might be called tritons and mermaids. Note their shape and appearance and the time when this happened. If fish women are caught in the seas of Guinea or in the lakes and rivers, note anything curious, true and unusual about this catch. If ambergris is sometimes found near the coasts and in the seas of Guinea, where is it thought to come from? If sea turtles are seen off the coast of Guinea and if they are caught, in what manner, in what season, and what species they are. From the produce of foreign fisheries If some merchants from the ports of Europe bring to Guinea and the neighbouring coasts of Africa some species of goods from foreign fisheries, what trade is done in the country. Where do these kinds of goods come from and what nationality are the sailors and merchants who trade in them? What kinds of goods do those who bring such goods to Guinea load there, and could the trade be profitable? If coral is brought there, where does it come from? Any details that may be relevant to this matter. Rocks and shells. Are the coasts of Guinea covered with many shells? Which species are most prized and which are found in greatest abundance, and do the coastal inhabitants use them for food?

What species of fish do the Negroes and other inhabitants catch during the year on this coast of Africa? Is all the fish they catch consumed solely by the fishermen, or do they trade some of it? What species of fish are caught in the rivers of Senegal and Gambia and other estuaries? Is there a fixed season for fishing the fish caught there, or are they fished throughout the year? Is the coastline rich in fish, and if so, what species? Are there many mackerel and sardines, and if so, what species, and are they commonly fished off the coast of Guinea as they are further north towards Cap Blanc? Whether whales are often seen off the coast of Guinea and whether they sometimes wash ashore. Whether there are large numbers of porpoises. Whether extraordinary sea monsters are seen or have been seen on occasion. Whether any have been seen or caught that resemble what might be called tritons and mermaids. Note their shape and appearance and the time when this happened. If fish women are caught in the seas of Guinea or in the lakes and rivers, note anything curious, true and unusual about this catch. If ambergris is sometimes found near the coasts and in the seas of Guinea, where is it thought to come from? If sea turtles are seen off the coast of Guinea and if they are caught, in what manner, in what season, and what species they are. From the produce of foreign fisheries If some merchants from the ports of Europe bring to Guinea and the neighbouring coasts of Africa some species of goods from foreign fisheries, what trade is done in the country. Where do these kinds of goods come from and what nationality are the sailors and merchants who trade in them? What kinds of goods do those who bring such goods to Guinea load there, and could the trade be profitable? If coral is brought there, where does it come from? Any details that may be relevant to this matter. Rocks and shells. Are the coasts of Guinea covered with many shells? Which species are most prized and which are found in greatest abundance, and do the coastal inhabitants use them for food?

If certain species of fish are caught using boats. Note the shape and equipment of these types of boats and how many men are in the crew. Whether the fishermen go far from the coast to fish at sea. Whether there are large pearl oysters or large silk mussels on the coast of Guinea, known as sea pinnes, as are fished in large quantities around the islands of Minorca, Majorca, etc. Whether common oysters and mussels are found on the same coast and whether they are of good quality. If seaweed, kelp, sar or seaweed are of any use on the coast of Guinea, note how they are used by the coastal inhabitants. Birds: A list of the names of the most common seabirds and maritime birds on the coast of Guinea, noting whether the Negroes or inhabitants fish for these birds in certain seasons, as is done with scoters in several bays of the Ponant seas. What is the bird that the Negroes call Guiambe, which has a horn on its head and which naturalists and curious people call the rhinoceros bird? Its shape, colour, size, inclinations and everything else that can reveal its nature. There are two species, one frequenting marshes, riverbanks and the sea to live on fish and insects, as do cranes, herons, etc., and the other frequenting woods and forests and fishing like storks, etc. Provide an accurate description of this bird, including where it is found, when it lays its eggs, where it nests, and whether it is common and ordinary on the coast of Guinea. The person responsible for responding to this memorandum is requested to supplement any omissions in the questions and requests just made concerning fishing in Guinea and anything that may be related to the trade that may be conducted there by foreign merchants. We have elaborated on this subject in order to gain a thorough understanding of it, we therefore request that it be done with the greatest possible accuracy and that it include everything that can be known either first-hand or through reliable reports from those who are knowledgeable and interested in this subject, so that only certain, consistent and verified facts are used in a general history of fishing, which we have been working on for several years.

French fishermen from the coasts of Guyenne, Aunis, Brittany and Normandy used to send their fishing boats to Cap Blanc. They would leave in winter and return to ports in Spain, Portugal and the Mediterranean to sell their fish for consumption during Lent. This was done in La Rochelle, Saint Malo, Honfleur, Dieppe and other ports. Fishing took place between Cap Blanc and Cap Velles, where fish were often so abundant that more than three hundred ships were needed to catch them. It is true that the fishermen were often pursued by both coastal privateers and Muslims, who were often attracted to these waters. Today, the area is rarely visited by fishermen since the discovery of the Newfoundland coast of Canada, where cod fishing takes place annually. Nowadays, fish is much better consumed either fresh or dried than it was from the African coast, where the product is now taken to neighbouring islands. Fishermen no longer bring anything back to Europe, and the memory of these fisheries has even been lost in several ports in France and Spain, from where merchants used to send them every year. In the past, as now, ships sailing to India, the Canary Islands or along the coast of Africa did not fail to fish there and in a short time caught such a large quantity of sardines that they not only had enough for several meals, but also salted some every night to have a small special supply.

(Draft letter to Mr Raudot). Memoir for Senegal. In the marshes along the Senegal River, there is a species of bird that the natives call Guyambe, which has the plumage and size of one of our large Indian chickens but is shorter on its feet. Its singularity consists of a horn on the top of its head, which has led curious cabinet collectors to give it the name rhinoceros bird, and in some cases, the head with the horn detaches quite easily from the skull. The Negroes to whom we have spoken about this bird and who are familiar with it assure us that there are two species, one aquatic and the other woodland. The former build their nests among the reeds, while the latter perch and build their nests in trees. There is a picture of such a bird in Mr. de Gennes's account of his voyage. It would be a curiosity worthy of the majesty of the king to have some of these birds brought here alive, where they could easily multiply. The peoples of Africa eat them, and the civilised Negroes among us assure us that the meat is good and very delicious. I have the honour of enclosing, as you requested, the short memorandum on the rhinoceros bird of which I spoke to you. If you give this commission to a man of some intelligence, I am convinced that you will enable us to see alive what is unknown to most naturalists and of which I have only ever seen two heads, one of which I returned to the Capuchins of Rouen and the other which is in the cabinet of the director of the (seized) property of the religious orders of Normandy. The first was crude. The horn on the head had fallen off, but the other was still there. Although we have not been brought any shells from Guinea and Senegal, the rocky coasts provide them, and the sands always have their own. As for what the interior of the country produces, I am sure you are better informed than I, who know only wax, elephant teeth (morfil), gums, dates and other fruits of the country. (additions: or that ten leagues away, the Negroes have gold dust) I humbly beg you, sir, to allow me to offer you my respectful regards. I recall that we have received no response to the memorandum on fishing that we sent to Messrs Saint Ovid and Dumez on ?le Royale, nor to Saint Domingue or Cayenne. I would be infinitely grateful if you would be so kind as to submit these reports again the next time you have any orders to give them. I am always ready to receive here those you wish to send me, etc.

Cayenne, Fish found in the province of Guyana. The manatee has a woman's breast, a cow's snout and two fins which it uses to carry and nurse its young. It grazes on grass along rivers. It is an excellent fresh salted fish. It provides meat as tender as pork. One was caught in Cayenne that yielded eight hundred and sixty pounds of meat. It is very common in all large rivers. It is very healthy. Sieur Barr?re, a doctor, drew one. There are five or six species of turtles. Those of the Amazons are caught in fresh water. Their meat is white and their fat is yellow. It is the best. Some weigh forty to fifty pounds. Land turtles are round and long. Sea turtles are caught in the coves in March, April and May, when they go to lay their eggs. We work in shifts at night, turning them over. Two turtles usually make a barrel of two hundred pounds of meat. They purify the blood. The caouanne is a larger turtle used to make oil. The negroes eat it. It is roughly shaped like an imperial carriage. Sieur Barr?re has drawn one. All these turtles are very common. The carr? (caret) is rare. It is said to be common in the Devil's Islands, twelve or fifteen leagues from Cayenne. The labrus is a very good fish that is caught with a line.

Cayenne, Fish found in the province of Guyana. The manatee has a woman's breast, a cow's snout and two fins which it uses to carry and nurse its young. It grazes on grass along rivers. It is an excellent fresh salted fish. It provides meat as tender as pork. One was caught in Cayenne that yielded eight hundred and sixty pounds of meat. It is very common in all large rivers. It is very healthy. Sieur Barr?re, a doctor, drew one. There are five or six species of turtles. Those of the Amazons are caught in fresh water. Their meat is white and their fat is yellow. It is the best. Some weigh forty to fifty pounds. Land turtles are round and long. Sea turtles are caught in the coves in March, April and May, when they go to lay their eggs. We work in shifts at night, turning them over. Two turtles usually make a barrel of two hundred pounds of meat. They purify the blood. The caouanne is a larger turtle used to make oil. The negroes eat it. It is roughly shaped like an imperial carriage. Sieur Barr?re has drawn one. All these turtles are very common. The carr? (caret) is rare. It is said to be common in the Devil's Islands, twelve or fifteen leagues from Cayenne. The labrus is a very good fish that is caught with a line.

Cayenne, Fish found in the province of Guyana. The manatee has a woman's breast, a cow's snout and two fins which it uses to carry and nurse its young. It grazes on grass along rivers. It is an excellent fresh salted fish. It provides meat as tender as pork. One was caught in Cayenne that yielded eight hundred and sixty pounds of meat. It is very common in all large rivers. It is very healthy. Sieur Barr?re, a doctor, drew one. There are five or six species of turtles. Those of the Amazons are caught in fresh water. Their meat is white and their fat is yellow. It is the best. Some weigh forty to fifty pounds. Land turtles are round and long. Sea turtles are caught in the coves in March, April and May, when they go to lay their eggs. We work in shifts at night, turning them over. Two turtles usually make a barrel of two hundred pounds of meat. They purify the blood. The caouanne is a larger turtle used to make oil. The negroes eat it. It is roughly shaped like an imperial carriage. Sieur Barr?re has drawn one. All these turtles are very common. The carr? (caret) is rare. It is said to be common in the Devil's Islands, twelve or fifteen leagues from Cayenne. The labrus is a very good fish that is caught with a line.

Cayenne, Fish found in the province of Guyana. The manatee has a woman's breast, a cow's snout and two fins which it uses to carry and nurse its young. It grazes on grass along rivers. It is an excellent fresh salted fish. It provides meat as tender as pork. One was caught in Cayenne that yielded eight hundred and sixty pounds of meat. It is very common in all large rivers. It is very healthy. Sieur Barr?re, a doctor, drew one. There are five or six species of turtles. Those of the Amazons are caught in fresh water. Their meat is white and their fat is yellow. It is the best. Some weigh forty to fifty pounds. Land turtles are round and long. Sea turtles are caught in the coves in March, April and May, when they go to lay their eggs. We work in shifts at night, turning them over. Two turtles usually make a barrel of two hundred pounds of meat. They purify the blood. The caouanne is a larger turtle used to make oil. The negroes eat it. It is roughly shaped like an imperial carriage. Sieur Barr?re has drawn one. All these turtles are very common. The carr? (caret) is rare. It is said to be common in the Devil's Islands, twelve or fifteen leagues from Cayenne. The labrus is a very good fish that is caught with a line.

a fishing net and a senne (net). There are some that weigh 700 pounds.This fish salts like cod but much better.The croupia is a very good fish which can weigh fifty pounds, round face and swims sideways. It is one of the best in Cayenne. Common, it is fished with an arrow and with a senne.The loubine is of two species. One is very good like the best pike whose face it has.The other tastes like a muse, can be fished as below, common. The mulet, like the abundant European one, is fished by arrow and senne. A few years ago, he had a catch of this pleasant fish, several small canoes with small nets on their canoes swam by force and head on. The mulet, to protect itself, jumped and fell in their nets. They took a lot of them in this manner. Parassir is what we call meuille in La Rochelle. It is very abundant and very good in their best season just as in France. It should be noted that all these fish are caught around a small forest that the Indians maintain. They block a creek with screens (boards). They pile the planks in the canoes and wall the creek up. They take a large quantity of fish of all species. Akoupa has flesh almost like that of whiting, with the shape of a pike. Some can be four feet long like loubines. The Apalika, much like the shad. The Moonfish, a very good passing fish, is fished with arrow and senne.The Big eyes stay on the shores of the sea. The Frog eyes. It is good, it can be fished with a torch, with a senne and the arrow. Very common. The karande looks like salmon, rare.There is a fish whose name I could not find out which is the best you can eat. It is flat and reddish with a round face, rare.The resi is of three species. One like that of France. One called a devil who has very long horns very dangerous when caught on the line. If the one whoever takes it doesn't take their line right away, it takes the canoe so fast that it is hard to get away with it. There were Negroes who were drowned by this fish. I saw some who could weigh up to seven hundred pounds. They are fished with folle net. Mr. Barrere drew it as well as lots of all these fish. The other species taken in fresh water is best, fished like I said. The sardine is like that of France but bad. The machoran is of two species, one yellow and the other white. The yellow one is very big, a big fish that can be caught with the arrow, on a line. Scaleless, both species are very abundant.The grunt (grondeux) is aptly named and is caught with aline. It?s a godsend resource for Cayenne. Pasanis, almost like machoran, better.

a fishing net and a senne (net). There are some that weigh 700 pounds.This fish salts like cod but much better.The croupia is a very good fish which can weigh fifty pounds, round face and swims sideways. It is one of the best in Cayenne. Common, it is fished with an arrow and with a senne.The loubine is of two species. One is very good like the best pike whose face it has.The other tastes like a muse, can be fished as below, common. The mulet, like the abundant European one, is fished by arrow and senne. A few years ago, he had a catch of this pleasant fish, several small canoes with small nets on their canoes swam by force and head on. The mulet, to protect itself, jumped and fell in their nets. They took a lot of them in this manner. Parassir is what we call meuille in La Rochelle. It is very abundant and very good in their best season just as in France. It should be noted that all these fish are caught around a small forest that the Indians maintain. They block a creek with screens (boards). They pile the planks in the canoes and wall the creek up. They take a large quantity of fish of all species. Akoupa has flesh almost like that of whiting, with the shape of a pike. Some can be four feet long like loubines. The Apalika, much like the shad. The Moonfish, a very good passing fish, is fished with arrow and senne.The Big eyes stay on the shores of the sea. The Frog eyes. It is good, it can be fished with a torch, with a senne and the arrow. Very common. The karande looks like salmon, rare.There is a fish whose name I could not find out which is the best you can eat. It is flat and reddish with a round face, rare.The resi is of three species. One like that of France. One called a devil who has very long horns very dangerous when caught on the line. If the one whoever takes it doesn't take their line right away, it takes the canoe so fast that it is hard to get away with it. There were Negroes who were drowned by this fish. I saw some who could weigh up to seven hundred pounds. They are fished with folle net. Mr. Barrere drew it as well as lots of all these fish. The other species taken in fresh water is best, fished like I said. The sardine is like that of France but bad. The machoran is of two species, one yellow and the other white. The yellow one is very big, a big fish that can be caught with the arrow, on a line. Scaleless, both species are very abundant.The grunt (grondeux) is aptly named and is caught with aline. It?s a godsend resource for Cayenne. Pasanis, almost like machoran, better.

Makouma is pretty much like pasani. Common, it is fished by arrow, line and senne. The swordfish is a very large, curious fish. It's caught with a folle net to make oil. It is common.The demoiselle is is caught with aline. It's a big fish like the machauran which weighs up to two hundred pounds.The pig is a very curious fish. Mr. Barraire drew some as a part of all others which are above. The lizard is very good and very common. The crayfish is larger than in France and less delicate. They are taken in the rivers. The toad is very good. It gets caught in the rocks in the sea. Shrimp is like in Europe. The crab is excellent. In January, February and March there are plenty of them.There is a sea pig called cabiaye (Capybara), quite common in some rivers. It is amphibious. It is claimed that Maipourri (tapir) is also amphibious. It is rare in Cayenne and very common inland. It has the horse's hair, his feet of pig. It's a very good meal. The sole is like plaice.There is a very bad kind of aurans. Lapas, a small fish, is caught at low tide in the mud. It is good. The pacou, a good fish, is caught in rivers.The commaron is red, very good. Aymara, good. The pike. Patayal is caught in holes. Coubani is pretty much like monkfish.The jayre is a small fish, not much. The eel is of two species. One trembling. It is to remark about this one that when it is caught on a line, the one who catches it becomes like lost. Usually when you catch them, you first need to take the mouth of the water. The negroes kill them right away either with a billhook or something else. The billhook jumps from his hands as he hits the eel. When it is dead, it has no longer any effect. We handle them or we skin them without anything happening. They say they are good and very big. Parsisy, a river fish, very large, very good, they are bearded. Coconut is caught by line, very common and good. The cachini is very large. It resembles salmon. It has a tongue half a foot long. The Indians use it as a file. This fish is preserved like the Lamentin. The eaglefish is very good. The pailla is a very good red fish. The sioure is a very good species of sea bass. The rock barbe is a very good fish, without scales, much better than tench and guimbarde. Father Charbonnier, a Jesuit who arrived from Camopy, told me that there was a sea tiger in this river. The front part is like a tiger with fur. It has tusks like a boar and half of its body is like a fish with scales. This sea monster is dangerous. It has caused the Indians to abandon the place where it live. I saw a small sea horse. It has the head and neck of a horse. Sieur Barraire drew it. Sieur Macaye, the counsellor, told me he saw one at the beginning of this year, 1723, and that its rump could be ten feet wide, as it sometimes appears. The Negroes claim that when these sea horses appear, it is a bad omen. There are still a few other fish that I am not familiar with. There are also more than thirty different species of snakes. Done at Cayenne on 29 September 1723.

Makouma is pretty much like pasani. Common, it is fished by arrow, line and senne. The swordfish is a very large, curious fish. It's caught with a folle net to make oil. It is common.The demoiselle is is caught with aline. It's a big fish like the machauran which weighs up to two hundred pounds.The pig is a very curious fish. Mr. Barraire drew some as a part of all others which are above. The lizard is very good and very common. The crayfish is larger than in France and less delicate. They are taken in the rivers. The toad is very good. It gets caught in the rocks in the sea. Shrimp is like in Europe. The crab is excellent. In January, February and March there are plenty of them.There is a sea pig called cabiaye (Capybara), quite common in some rivers. It is amphibious. It is claimed that Maipourri (tapir) is also amphibious. It is rare in Cayenne and very common inland. It has the horse's hair, his feet of pig. It's a very good meal. The sole is like plaice.There is a very bad kind of aurans. Lapas, a small fish, is caught at low tide in the mud. It is good. The pacou, a good fish, is caught in rivers.The commaron is red, very good. Aymara, good. The pike. Patayal is caught in holes. Coubani is pretty much like monkfish.The jayre is a small fish, not much. The eel is of two species. One trembling. It is to remark about this one that when it is caught on a line, the one who catches it becomes like lost. Usually when you catch them, you first need to take the mouth of the water. The negroes kill them right away either with a billhook or something else. The billhook jumps from his hands as he hits the eel. When it is dead, it has no longer any effect. We handle them or we skin them without anything happening. They say they are good and very big. Parsisy, a river fish, very large, very good, they are bearded. Coconut is caught by line, very common and good. The cachini is very large. It resembles salmon. It has a tongue half a foot long. The Indians use it as a file. This fish is preserved like the Lamentin. The eaglefish is very good. The pailla is a very good red fish. The sioure is a very good species of sea bass. The rock barbe is a very good fish, without scales, much better than tench and guimbarde. Father Charbonnier, a Jesuit who arrived from Camopy, told me that there was a sea tiger in this river. The front part is like a tiger with fur. It has tusks like a boar and half of its body is like a fish with scales. This sea monster is dangerous. It has caused the Indians to abandon the place where it live. I saw a small sea horse. It has the head and neck of a horse. Sieur Barraire drew it. Sieur Macaye, the counsellor, told me he saw one at the beginning of this year, 1723, and that its rump could be ten feet wide, as it sometimes appears. The Negroes claim that when these sea horses appear, it is a bad omen. There are still a few other fish that I am not familiar with. There are also more than thirty different species of snakes. Done at Cayenne on 29 September 1723.