INTRODUCTION. 



This Volume is the first of a series in which it is 

 intended to pubHsh the more scientific results of the 

 Marine Investigations initiated by the Cape Government 

 some years ago. 



These investigations were primarly with a view to 

 immediate practical results, and consequently this 

 aspect of the work demanded the first attention. 

 Fortunately this has proved satisfactory, chiefly owing 

 to the discovery of trawling ground on certain parts of 

 the Agulhas Bank, and the successful following up of 

 the work by private enterprise. With regard to other 

 practical matters which primarly demanded attention, a 

 fairly adequate system of fishery staiisiics nas been 

 initiated and carried on for some time ; some points 

 in fishery legislation have also been put on a more 

 satisfactory basis, so that attention may now justifiably 

 be directed to more strictly scientific matters of in- 

 direct, though, ultimately, of no less practical import- 

 ance. To these this volume forms a first contribution, 

 and matter for the better part of another volume is 

 now in the hands of the printers. 



Collections have, however, been made whenever 

 possible ; a great quantity of material has now been 

 procured for examination, and this will be dealt with 

 as time permits. These collections are almost ex- 

 clusively the results of dredging and trawling in 20 to 

 100 fathoms, though occasionally an opportunity was 

 afforded of exploring the deeper waters. Very little 

 shore collecting has been possible, but with the now 

 nearly completed Marine Station and additional assist- 

 ance this will form a more prominent part of the work. 



