24 



London the water was quite warm to the hands ; the net and 

 boards were also warm to the touch. My crew drew my 

 attention to it. The depth of the water was 24 to 32 fathoms. 

 I may mention that the fishing on these dates was very poor." 



The Civil Commissioner at East London obtained reports 

 from Field Cornets Willows and Holds tock. Mr. Willows 

 reports : " The report in the Peninsula Herald is correct ; the 

 sea, in which the dead and living fish were found in abundance, 

 also extended east of Christmas Vale to the mouth of the 

 Igoda River. Several days prior to the washing up of the fish 

 strong south-east winds prevailed, and the general opinion is 

 that they were the direct cause. However, this is an open 

 question, owing mainly to the fact that some of the varieties 

 washed up are known as " deep sea fish," and, therefore, not 

 hkely to be incapacitated by rough seas and, in addition, I 

 noticed several eels. For several days live fish were caught 

 in pools at low water, after the winds had abated, and the 

 condition of the sea was fairly smooth. This gave rise to the 

 supposition on my part that there was a possibility of the fish 

 and eels having eaten a variety of sea weed, that at this 

 particular time had a paralysing effect, thus causing them to 

 lose control and be washed up by the force of the waves. The 

 fish were eaten by natives and others without any ill effects 

 About two and a-half years ago a similar occuirence took place 

 along the beach in the vicinity of the Igulu River mouth." 



Mr. Holdstock reports : " The fish were alive when washed 

 up on the beach, as some were caught alive in shallow water. 

 My opinion is that the fish were blinded with sand, which had 

 been dispatched (?) off the harbour at East London, as there 

 had been a heavy South-east wind blowing for four days, and 

 these fish came ashore on the last day of the gale. I have not 

 heard of any ashore to the east of East London." 



Mr. H. H. van Breda, of Struis Bay, Bredasdorp, reported 

 that after making enquiries he found that no such occurrence 

 had been observed near Struis Bay within the last few months. 



Mr. Regnart, of Jeffrey's Bay, writes : " Up to the present 

 (23rd October, 1903) there have been no signs of fish being 

 dead or paralysed on this coast. For the last three months a 

 very strong current has been running to the west ; fish are 

 plentiful, but will not feed. I beheve I notified to your office 

 in December last of a number of Kantonkel being washed out, 

 some dead and others numbed with the cold. The water had 

 been so cold for some days previously that it was impossible 

 to bathe. On the 23rd most of the fish were washed ashore ; 

 they were of large size, but only of the one kind. I go myself 

 occasionally with the boats and should have noticed and 

 reported anything exceptional." 



