UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



MARINE BIOLOGICAL REPORT. 



I.— THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FISHING 

 INDUSTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



The history of the fishing industry in South Africa dates 

 from a comparatively recent period. The aboriginal fishermen 

 were, it is stated (Kolben), expert in their own particular 

 methods. They used lines and hooks, with which they fished 

 from the rocks ; nets also were employed, and spearing, as 

 well as the most primitive of all methods, " groping or tick- 

 ling." Whistling or shouting during fishing operations was 

 believed to be an improvement on these methods, as it ensured 

 better results. Another development of this early fishing 

 industry was brought about when the more adventurous and 

 enterprising fishers swam out to the rocks situated at some 

 distance from the shore, where they procured a more abundant 

 supply, which they " take in their karosses or tie up in leathern 

 bags and swim with the burthen on their heads." (Kolben.) 

 The necessity for improved methods and extension of fishing 

 operations to deeper waters was thus felt even in those early 

 days, and was the beginning of subsequent enterprises which 

 have led to steam trawlers making voyages of over loo miles 

 to distant fishing grounds. 



With the settlement of Europeans in South Africa came 

 improved methods, chiefly more effective and larger nets, 

 better hooks, lines and boats. The interests of agriculture 

 were, however, held to be of greater importance than those 

 of the fishing industry, chiefly because the demand for agricul- 

 tural produce was greater. Certain restrictions even were 

 imposed by the East India Company on fishing operations. 



With a growing farming population at the Cape, however, 

 a market gradually arose for fi.sh. The chief demand was for 

 Harders (Mullet), and quantities of this were salted, dried 

 and carried by wagon or cart to the various inland places. 

 Seines or " trek-nets " were the chief fishing implements used 



[C.P. 6-'i4.] 



