78 



One of the most striking features of these figures is the 

 erratic nature of the liuctuation in the supply. In four years 

 — 1880 to 1883 — there was a steady increase in the supply of 

 " Bokkoms " — from about 400,000 to nearly 2 millions. The 

 following year the quantity was less, but still relatively very 

 hirge. Thereafter nothing like this quantity was obtained. 

 There is no apparent cause for this sudden increase and equally 

 sudden decrease, but it would seem that it could not have been 

 due to any particular methods of fishing, and was entirely 

 beyond control. 



The ligures fall more or less steadily towards the year 

 1890 and increase suddenly in 1892. From this date there 

 is a more or less gradual falling-off. From 1897 to 1912 there 

 cannot, however, be said to be a falling-off, indeed, the supply 

 is greater in 1908 than in any year since 1890, and the figures 

 for 1902 are the lowest on record. 



With regard to the adult fish or " Harder," it is to be noted, 

 in the first place, that they are caught in much fewer numbers 

 and, secondly, that they do not show the same marked falling- 

 off in numbers as the young forms. Again, their years of 

 maxima and minima, as a rule, do not correspond with those 

 of the " Bokkom," though in 1895 and 1902 the minima of 

 both occurred in the same year, and in 1908 the maxima. 



An interesting feature of these data is that there is a certain 

 periodicity in the occurrence of the good years. Thus, for 

 " Harders " and '' Bokkoms," taken together, the relatively 

 best years were 1883, 1887, 1892, 1896, 1900, 1904, 1908, or 

 intervals of 4, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4 years respectively, though it is to be 

 noted that no outstanding good year has occurred subsequent 

 to 1908. According to this, 1912 or 1913 should have been 

 good years. These facts, which may prove to be of importance, 

 may be represented by the accompanying curves, the periodicity 

 being more clearly indicated in the " smoothed " curve. 



With regard to the figures as a whole, there is undoubtedly 

 a marked falling-off in the supply indicated, assuming their 

 relative accuracy and an approximately equal or at least not 

 diminishing number of men employed. The falling-off, how- 

 ever, may have been local in its occurrence and some of the 

 witnesses examined stated that the supply had increased at 

 other places, such as Hoetjes Bay. 



With regard to the occurrence of sea fish in the Berg Ri\-er, 

 statements are conflicting, but the experimental hauls made 

 by the Government may be taken as reliable evidence on this 

 point. In one of these latter, near the mouth of the river, 

 12 Gurnards {Trigla kumu), 2 White Steenbras {Pagellus 

 lithognathns), 2 White Stumpnose {Chrysophrys globiceps) — 



