II 



condemned. It need not, however, be dealt with in this 

 enquiry, as it has long ago (in 1890) been prohibited by law, 

 and there is no reason to believe such a wasteful method of 

 procuring fish is indulged in to any extent, though now and 

 again it may be employed in some of the up-country rivers 

 and pools near mining operations. 



4. The fish supply is said to have been affected in nearly all 

 countries by the increase of shipping, especially of steamers, 

 at the large ports, and South Africa is not an exception in 

 this respect. In Table Bay more particularly, where the 

 increase of shipping has chiefly occurred, the alleged diminution 

 of fish has been associated with the increased traffic. This, 

 hke the running of trains and firing of guns, is of local occur- 

 rence, and, if fish are scared away, it is probably only to some 

 other part of the coast. 



5. Differing from these is the allegation that netting, especi- 

 ally at certain times and places, is responsible for such diminu- 

 tion. The consideration of this is of more importance than 

 any of the above, as not only does it occur on a larger scale, 

 but it can be more or less remedied. Objections to netting in 

 South Africa were first put forward at Port Elizabeth in 

 connection with fishing in the Zwartkops River, which opens 

 into Algoa Bay near that town. The river is tidal for several 

 miles inland, and is a favourite resort for anglers as well as 

 netters. Netting was not carried on on an extensive scale, 

 only one or two fishers catching fish for sale. It was alleged 

 by the anglers that, in netting operations, quantities of fish 

 spawn and young were destroyed, that the fish came into the 

 river to breed, and were unduly disturbed by the netters, and 

 that as a consequence fish were becoming scarcer in the river. 

 The netters, on the other hand, stated that their operations 

 were an actual benefit to the fish supply, as they frequently 

 caught large sharks, one of which could cause more damage 

 than all the netters together. They stated, furthermore, that 

 there was no evidence of the diminution of fish and that the 

 fish came out and in with every tide. (For further discussion 

 of this question vide p. 75.) 



6. The destruction of fish by sea birds must be enormous. 

 Malagas, Duikers and Penguins live on fish, and, on the West 

 coast of South Afiica, where these birds breed without disturb- 

 ance on the small islands off the coast, they occur in large 

 numbers. They are protected from their enemies by being 

 able to resort in the breeding season to these barren islands, 

 on which no natural enemies, such as jackals or other carnivora 

 of the mainland, can exist. They are now further protected 

 by legislation, as they are most valuable guano producers. 

 The chief offender amongst these birds is the " Cormorant," 



[C.P. 6-'i4.] c 



