86 



(3) The Sea-Harder or Greenback-Harder, characterised by 

 its bluish colour, firmer flesh, and harder, whiter belh^ 

 is a sea fish, and comes into the rivers about October 

 and leaves about December. In January it is very 

 scarce in the ri\'er. It is the ordinary Harder of the sea 

 coast {M. capita). 



{4) The Streep-Harder or Kol-Harder, also called by some 

 the Springer, is also a sea fish that comes up the river 

 at times. 



(5) The Mud-Harder, distinguished by its soft, large abdo- 



men, remains in the river throughout the year. 



(6) The Freshwater or River-Harder is thicker and larger 



than the Mud-Harder. The abdomen is harder, the 

 eyes larger, and the head broader. It is of a light brown 

 colour above and white below. 



Harders are said, by the Knysna fishermen, "to go against 

 the wind " in a South-Easter, and are found on the east bank 

 of the river. A north-west wind brings them up the river. 

 ]\Iost of the fish pass out and in from the sea, and, after a con- 

 tinuous and strong south-east wind, the river is full of fish 

 and even Hottentots and Blauers, which are outside " rock 

 fish " come into the river. The best time to catch fish in the 

 lagoon is after a freshet and several days south-east wind. 



Although the fish come into the river from the sea and pass 

 out again, this is not true of all kinds, and there are many which 

 never or seldom appear in the ri\-er. The following is a list 

 of them as given by the fishermen : — 



Geelbek {Otolithus aequidens). — Only one is known to have 



been found in the river. 

 Hoiteniot (Cnrtharus blochii). — Seldom in the river. 

 Blauer, Poeuskop or Poeskop (Sargus Sp.) 

 Dageraad {Chrysophrys laiiiarius). 

 Roman {Chrysophrys cristiceps). 



Silver-fish, or Seventy-four {Dentex lineatus). — Never found 

 in the river. The " Silver-fish " of Knysna is not the 

 fish of the same name at Kalk Bay and Table Bay, which 

 is Dentex argyrozona. 

 Sandfish. — These are of two kinds, one red and one bluish. 

 One is in the river and one in the sea. This seems to 

 be the " Panga " {Pagrus laniarius), of Kalk Bay. 

 Red-stumpnose. — Apparently not the fish so-called at Cape 

 Town. 



Rooitje or Kaapenaar {Dentex argyrozona). — The silver fish 

 of Kalk Bay. | 



