Si 



not to be confused with the White Stiimpnose of Knysna and 

 the Zwartkops River which is Sargus holubi — and two Baggers 

 {Galeichthys feliccps) were found. These are characteristic sea 

 fish. Another haul taken in the river five miles from the mouth 

 included 200 Elft {Temnodon saltator) ; one taken nine miles 

 from the mouth, in fresh water, included none of these fish, 

 and consisted of "Bokkoms," which are young Harders {Mtigil 

 capita) and " Assous " {Sprattcloides aestuariiis). The occur- 

 rence of Harders in the fresh water is of interest, as this is one 

 of the points in dispute. It may, therefore, be concluded that 

 sea fish arc fairly abundant in the river, at least at this particu- 

 lar season (January). 



It is stated by some that Kabeljaauw {Sciaena aquila) were 

 formerly abundant in the river ; Hottentot {Cantharus hlochii) 

 and " Rock Fish " are said to be absent. 



The Josef [C alloy hynchus antarcticus) does not seem to be 

 found in the river, though so abundant on the coast here that 

 occasionally large haul are made by seine nets. Their capture 

 is unintentional, as they are useless as a food fish. 



It is disputed that sea fish are ever found in roe in the river, 

 and none of the sea fish in the hauls made were in this condition, 

 except the Baggers, of which some were found with eggs. 

 From experimental hauls made in the Zwartkops River, it 

 seems that these fish, whose spawning habits are peculiar, 

 sometimes, at least, ascend well up into the tidal river at spawn- 

 ing times. From the data procured from the hauls, one might 

 conclude that, with the exception of the Bagger, sea fish are 

 not in roe in the river, but from investigation into the next 

 question, it is indicated that not only do they occur in roe, but 

 the eggs are actually deposited in the river. 



These eggs were found in a series of tow-nettings in the river. 

 About two miles up the river, at ebb tide, 12 fish eggs were 

 procured in about four hauls of the net, lasting in all about 

 l^.alf-an-hour, and further up the river fish eggs were again found 

 in about the same numbers. The net was only about a f^^ot 

 wide at its open end, and it is therefore evident that fish ( rgs 

 must be abimdant in the river at this season. 



The eggs procured were of two kinds, one with a diameter 

 of -85 to -90 mm. and with a single oil globule of -21 mm. ; 

 a second measured -So to -82 mm. in diameter and had from 

 5 to 7 small oil globules of -08 to -12 mm. From previous 

 investigation at the Marine Laboratory, St. James, the first 

 kind would appear to be the eggs of the Kabeljaauw {Sciaena 

 aquila), which were found to measure from -91 to -82 mm. 

 with a single oil globule (about 10 per cent, had two) of -2 to 

 •19 mm. [Vide Marine Investigations in South Africa, Vol. 



[C.P. 6-'i4.] 



