182 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROVAL SOCIETY OP QUEENSLAND. 



Mr. J. F. Colbert, of Lake Nash Station, Northern Territory, 

 in reply to a series ol questions, gave the following information 

 (September-November 1919). He had met with the epidemic 

 on the Diamantina. Bourke, and Georgina Rivers, especially 

 during June and July. In these rivers and particularly at 

 Lake Nash and at Boulia (Bourke River), the dead fish were 

 at times jailed up on the banks by the wind, forming a mass 

 some feet across, and this in spite of the presence of enormous 

 numbers of water-birds which were engaged in devouring 

 them. The chief kinds affected were yellow-belly, bream, and 

 perch. The bluish '' boil " mentioned by Mr. Caldwell was 

 not observed. Diseased specimens Avere fat. He was unaware 

 whether there was any relation between the occurrence of the 

 epidemic and drought or cold. The water was not obviously 

 mineralised, and bore-Mater Avas not present at Lake Nash. 

 The disease, which appeared and disappeared suddenly, was 

 found both in shallow and in deep holes containing water which 

 was of a dark-green colour — " as green as a typical duck- 

 pond" — whereas during the time that the epidemic was not 

 present it was muddy or milky. In places, e.g. Old Cork Station 

 (Diamantina), the stench from the decomposing fish was so 

 bad that people had to leave the homestead and camp else- 

 where. The epidemic did not make its appearance at Lake 

 Nash during 1919. Mr. Colbert questioned large numbers of 

 aboriginals, Mho beheved that the death of the fish was brought 

 about by one of two cause: — (a) the water turned green and 

 killed them ; (b) the fish fought and killed each other. The 

 latter is obviously an insufficient explanation. 



Mr. W. H. Rudd, Austral Downs, Northern Territory, 

 stated (January 1920), in reply to our questions, that he had 

 observed the condition in the Georgina and Diamantina Rivers 

 during September, October, and November 1917, and in the 

 former river during the latter half of 1918. It was not seen 

 during 1919. Yellow-bellies and a kind of catfish were espe- 

 cially affected, becoming drowsy, shimming slowly near the 

 banks in shallow water, and then floating and dying on the 

 surface. Though the fish were fat and appeared to be some- 

 what swollen, no discolouration was noticed. The epidemic 

 appeared each time rather suddenly about midwinter, finally 

 disappearing Avhen the rivers began to flow as a result of heavy 

 rainfall. Though it occurred during the dry time of the year, 

 there was no drought, but there were verj^ cold periods with 

 ice on the water occasionally. Good rains had fallen each 



