178 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROVAE SOCIETY OF QCEENSLAND. 



Heaps of fish could be seen along the bank for about two 

 miles. A large proportion of those seen in the unburnt heaps 

 were small jewfish (resembling A^eosilurus), but specimens of 

 black bream, golden perch, and bony bream could also be 

 recognised. The mortality apparently had affected old and 

 young fish alike, as large and small specimens of perch and 

 bream were found. 



Flocks of water-birds had also assisted in clearing the 

 river of dying fish. Cormorants {Phalacrocorax snlcirostris 

 and P. nielanoleucus), snake-birds {Plotus novcehollandice), white 

 egrets {Herodias timoriensis) , blue cranes {Notophoyx novce- 

 hollandice), nankeen herons — so-called bitterns {Nycticorax 

 caledonicus) — and kites (Milvus affinis) were all present in 

 large numbers. Black ibis {Plegadis falcinellus) and white ibis 

 {Ibis molucca) were also numerous, but pelicans {Pelecanus 

 conspicillatus), though present, were not common. In the 

 upper reaches of the lagoon wild pigs had been seen feeding on 

 the dead fish. 



Mr. W. Woulfe wrote from Longreach (26th December 

 1918) stating that the epidemic had reappeared in the Thomson 

 River, affecting chiefly fish of from four to six pounds in 

 weight. He counted 111 dead fish that morning along a length 

 of only fifty yards of the bank. Cormorants were present in 

 countless thousands, while pelicans, herons, blue cranes, &c., 

 were in great numbers. 



In the '■ Courier " of 7th January, 1919, it was stated 

 that during the preceding three weeks great mortality of fish 

 had occurred in the Tliomson River, deaths being more 

 numerous than on the previous occasion, large fish especiall}'' 

 being the victims. 



As an outbreak was reported in the Brisbane daily press 

 (27th August 1919) as having occurred in the Bulloo and 

 Wilson Rivers, we wrote to Mr. Mills who informed us that the 

 epidemic had broken out at Longreach during the winter 

 and had lasted about six weeks, terminating in early August. 



McINTYRE AND SEVERN RIVERS. 



Through the kindness of Mr. W. Hamilton, Fisheries 

 Department, Brisbane, we had access to reports from the 

 police officers at Goondiwindi (Messrs. M. J. Bergin, J. McKinley) 

 and Inglewood (Mr. J. Hogan) relating to an epidemic during 

 the late Avinter of 1918 in these two rivers. 



