15 APRIL 1955, Page 18

SIR,—It used to be thought unwise in West Africa to

drink live fish. While on trek in the Gold Coast during the dry season, I once pro- tested to my steward boy against sharing a gallon of muddy bath water with a small live fish. The boy thought that I was being fussy. 'Massa, him no hurt for bath. You go drink him, him grow big for belly, him hurt too much.'—Yours faithfully,

A. S. THOMAS

Goodings Cottage, Woodland St. Mary, Newbury