Observations on a Living Coelacanth

Abstract

DURING the recent Franco–British–American expedition to the Comoro Islands at the north end of the Mozambique channel we had the opportunity to observe a living coelacanth. The fish, a small specimen 85 cm in length, was caught by a native fisherman at Iconi, Grande Comore, at 0200 on March 22, 1972. It was caught from a pirogue by hand line, using a piece of tuna as bait. The fish was transferred by the fishermen to a cylindrical cage approximately 1.5 m diameter by 2 m length which had been built at Iconi during a previous Canadian expedition.