FISH POISONING AND FOISONS.^HAMLYN-EAEEIS AND SMITH. 3 



that is at best but that of an overgrown youth. The explanation of E. J. 

 Banfield that the need of the moment supplied the need of the moment, that 

 the native fisher resorted to plant material abundant and ready to hand, though 

 probably accounting for the first employment of fish-poisons, subsequently from 

 their recognised efficiency adopted and widely used, does not suffice for the 

 general and deliberate usage of plants of marked and certain toxic qualities — 

 usage dictated, it seems, by distinct foreknowledge and intent. The recent use 

 as a poison of the exotic Asclepias curassavica by natives on the Don River, and 

 wiiich may be supposed to be frequently efficacious from its botanical association 

 with other Asclepiadeffi, is an instance of the extension of aboriginal poison lore, 

 probably as a result of experience, though the usage of the innocuous Sarco- 

 cepJialus cordatns and Pleioginmim solandri, recorded as fish-poisons from the 

 Proserpine district, warrants the opinion quoted — that plant material was used 

 without direct recognition of its effectivity or non-effectivity, probably sometimes 

 because it was readily obtained. The use of Alocasia macrorrkiza, which at least 

 is likely to prove not certainly efficacious (from the abundant occurrence of the 

 plant in moist and low-lying situations often adjacent to watercourses), may be 

 cited as an example of the tendency to resort to material conveniently and 

 expeditiously obtained. It may be surmised that the employment of Polygonum 

 species was first dictated by similar circumstances. 



The use or successful use of certain poisons was indubitably prescribed in 

 measure by natural circumstances. If, for instance, the toxic principle of 

 Diospyros hehecarpa is confined to the fresh fruit, poisoning by such means 

 M^ould be limited to seasons at which the plant is in bearing. Similarly, species of 

 Acacia and Alhizzia would vary in efficacy with seasonal variation in tannin 

 content or with seasonal elaboration of sapotoxin. 



The poison "Nero," which is gathered from mangrove-fringed and swampy 

 foreshores, would be available only at drier portions of the years when its 

 habitat is accessible. Foreknowlege of the more highlj^ efficient plant material 

 is shown in the almost exclusive employment of Derris and Tephrosia in certain 

 localities, and in the preference for the sapotoxin-containing Cupania and of 

 Derris species by the Cardwell natives. It would appear certain, however, that, 

 in case of dearth of more potent material, plants of lesser efficacy were in 

 many cases resorted to. It is noted that the less efficient poisons include 

 Acacia, AVjizzia, Eucalyptus species, Tleiogynium, SarcocepJialus, and Terminalia. 

 Acacia, Alhizzia., and Eucalyptus are of widespread and plentiful occurrence; 

 Pleiogynium, Sarcocephalus, and Terminalia are abundant in localities. It is 

 probable, therefore, that the ease of obtaining plentiful supplies has predeter- 

 mined the adoption and use of some material. The comparative scarcity of 

 the saponaceous fruit of Castanospermum australe would be unfavourable to 

 its utilisation in fish-poisoning, though it may be surmised that its utility as a 

 food would be similarly operative. 



The recognised value of certain plants in furnishing food may, however, 

 have led to the extension of their utility in the adoption of portions for the 

 purpose of obtaining fish. The fruit of Earadaya splendida is edible; the bark 

 constitutes a powerful and effective fish-poison. The fruit of Barringtonia 

 spcciosa is eaten in season in the Townsville district ; the bark is valued for its 

 effect on fish when introduced into suitable bodies of water. Similarly, the 

 prepared rootstock of Alocasia is a food ; the aerial part has been resorted to 

 for the taking of the denizens of the streams. Polygonum hydropiper was also 

 used as a food. The association of fish-poisoning property in certain plants 

 with medicinal virtue is also noted. Petalostigma quadrilocidare is employed 

 in the Oaklands (Cairns) district as an antidote for opium; the bark of an 



