i. p 571 (1870). Kleinz. Verh. Zool.— bot. Ges. Wien, 



XXL, p. 603 (1871) ; Bleek. Atl. Ich. VI., p. 84, pi. 



CCLVIII, fig. 3 (1872); Day, Fishes Ind. p. 649, pi. 



CXLVI, fig. (1878), &c. 



Depth of body 4i- to 5?,- times in total, length of head 3^- to 4 



times. Eye 4 to 5 times, about equal to snout and interoi- 



bital width. Lower jaw scarcely projecting beyond upper. 



Scales about 100 — 120 in a longitudinal series, ]}. — ]'i in 

 in a transverse series, 9 — 10 between lateral fine and scaly 

 process above ventral, 28 round caudal pednule. 

 Dorsal 22 — 25, Anal 13 — 17. 

 Branchiategals 28 — 35. 

 Colour silvery. 



This fish is abundantly distributed in tropical and sub- 

 tropical seas, and may grow to a length of 3 feet. 



Elops sauriis. The " Springer " or " Salmon " of the East Coast (Blgr. after Day). 



At certain seasons it ascends rivers and is known to fishermen 

 on the East Coast as Cape Salmon, a name usually apphed 

 elsewhere in South Africa to the Geelbek {Otolithus cequidcns). 

 It aftords excellent sport to anglers, and, in this respect, 

 resembles its namesake the salmon more than the 

 geel-bek. Though known by this name at Port Elizabeth 

 and East London it is called the " Springer " in Natal, a name 

 apphed to a mullet, or '' harder," in other parts of South 

 Africa. The largest specimen recorded (Mr. Robinson, Natal) 

 was 15 lb. in weight. He writes " The springer is related to 

 the tarpon, which it resembles in the fire and speed of its 

 movements when hooked • and its frequent leaps out of the 

 water when seeking to rid itself of the hook. It is a beautiful 

 silvery fish with large scales, but, owing to its violent struggles 

 when landed, it generally damages its skin, and it is not easy 



to get a perfect specimen Its flesh is too pappy and full 



of bones to be edible. It will take most baits, but it is difficult 

 to land owing to its soft mouth." Plate II. is from a photo- 

 graph of two specimen caught at Delagoa Bay. 



The young of the fish are ribbon shaped. 

 [C.P. 5-'i3-] 



