He worked for the British government in Nyasaland and later in the government of Malawi when it became an independent nation. In 1972 the government decided that Hennie and Peter Davies, the first cichlid exporters in Malawi, should have some competition and asked Stuart, whom they knew was interested in fish (killifish actually), whether he could establish a fish exporting business on the shore of Lake Malawi. Virtually without any starting capital Stuart took up residence at the Eagle Inn, a “rest house” (still in existence) on the shore opposite the Maleri islands, and started to collect fish, keeping them in net-covered drums in the lake. Stuart introduced the hookah-gear in Malawi so that his diver-collectors, instead of catching fish on a single breath of air, could remain underwater for any length of time, and considerably expanded the variety of cichlids exported. Later he changed his rest house abode for another, smaller dwelling: a tiny rented caravan at Kambiri Point but with the added feature of a sort of fish house on the property where he could, for the first time, keep the fish collected from the lake in vats. In the late 1970s he moved into a remodeled garage on the same property. Business picked up and he was able to purchase a small plane so that he could transport fishes and supplies between Likoma Island and Salima. 

By this time the Davies had left the country and Norman Edwards had taken over their license. At that time the lake was divided in three regions where three different operators could collect their fishes (to give each one a set of unique fishes that only they could provide). The third exporter was Eric Fleet, who operated from Blantyre. Although business was booming it wasn’t large enough for all three exporters and by 1985 Stuart was the sole survivor, operating from Kambiri Point. Suddenly there were more possibilities and he was able to purchase a 500 sq. m. plot next to his rented site. For more than a decade he was the only exporter of Malawi cichlids and introduced countless new species into the hobby. He established a, by African standards, very large operation at Kambiri with a main fish house holding hundreds of glass tanks, plastic containers, and concrete vats. Hundreds of large concrete vats were built under shade netting to hold cichlids that came from far away parts of the lake. He employed about 60 men and women who were responsible for collecting (six collecting teams were stationed around the lake), maintaining, packing, and exporting the cichlids. His impact on the local scene was enormous with up to 1500 people directly dependent on his fish exporting business.
In the early 1980s Stuart started to invite hobbyists to his establishment and guided them on various trips on the lake. In 1986 he acquired a large diesel boat, the famous Lady Diana, which became an instant hit with visitors. From then on he employed boat builders who, over the years, built him many boats including five large, diesel-powered vessels. Today these boats are by far the best means of transportation on the lake and many aquarists have made dive tours on one of them.

Stuart married late in life, at the age of 56, and his Malawian wife Esther bore him a daughter Louise and later a son, Justinian. On October 11th 2007, at the age of 70, he died at his home, from heart failure. His funeral was attended by approximately 1500 mourners, an indication of his reputation in Malawi as well. He is buried on his land at Kambiri Point, overlooking the lake; the lake that he brought to us. He will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.