7^ 



more especially by the placing of set nets across the main 

 channels of the ri\'er, thus preventing the fish ha\-ing access 

 to their feeding and spawning grounds. A Proclamation was 

 accordingly issued forbidding the placing of such nets in the 

 main channels of the Berg River, on the ground that whether 

 or not the river is the feeding and spawning ground of the fish, 

 it was undesirable that it should be blocked to their ingress. 



Under the Fisheries Ordinance of 1912 this regulation 

 lapsed, but on representations from the fishermen, was 

 re-enacted under a somewhat different form, as follows : — 

 " Within the limits of the fishing area defined in Procla- 

 mation No. 115 of 1912 (the Berg River from its 

 mouth to the ebb and flow drift, known as Wilgen- 

 boschdrift, in the Division of Malmesbury, including 

 all tidal creeks between the mouth and the said drift) 

 no person shall fish in the main channels of the Berg 

 River with any kind of net other than seine or trek 

 net ; but staked or drift nets may be used in such 

 waters of the so-called flats, plaaten or backwaters of 

 the said river as are not parts of the main channels." 

 At a later date, representation was made to the Adminis- 

 trator that the fish supply in St. Helena Bay and its neigh- 

 bourhood was falling off considerably, and this was belie\ed 

 to be due to netting operations in the Berg River. It was 

 stated that in the opinion of the " best fishermen," Harders 

 come into the river to spawn, and these spawning fish, as well 

 as young fish, are disturbed and destroyed to such an extent 

 that the general fish supply is affected. On the other hand, 

 this was controverted by the river fishermen, who state that 

 sea fish seldom visit the river, and that they never find any 

 salt water fish in the river in roe. The scarcity of fish is due, 

 they say, to the scaring methods employed by the Italians, 

 and also to the explosion of the bombs used by the whalers. 

 That there has been a falling-ofl in the supply is admitted by 

 most fishermen, and seems to be established by statistics of the 

 catches of Harders and " Bokkoms." Some, however, main- 

 tain not only that there has been no falling-off, but that there 

 has been an increase at some places. 



For the sake of clearness, the various points at issue may 

 be set forth : — 



(i) Is there a marked decrease in the supply ? 



(2) Are sea fish found in the Berg River ? 



(3) Are sea fish in roe found ? 



{4) Do they deposit their eggs in the river ? 



(5) If so, are these destroyed by netting ? 



(6) Are their 3'oung destroyed by netting ? 



(7) Are immature fish destroyed by netting ? 



