119 



in good condition as long as the Sardines remain. The worst 

 time of the year for Snoek is from about the middle of July to 

 the middle of September, and during this period very little 

 fishing is done. 



Besides seasonal variations, Snoek seem very sensitive to 

 changes of physical conditions. Thus it is stated that on a 

 heavy wind springing up they disappear ; they lie at the bottom 

 and will not rise until it is calm again. In stormy weather 

 they have been seen at some depth, with head pointed steadily 

 downwards and tail gently waving ; but it is also averred that 

 should strong N.W. winds blow while they are in False Bay 

 they leave that locality and re-appear in Table Bay. The 

 day after an unusually successful catch in False Bay, a strong 

 wind sprang up from the N.W. (off-shore), and although all 

 the boats went out, not a single Snoek was to be found. There 

 are, therefore, seasonal variations in the appearing of Snoek, 

 connected probably with the movements of the " Sardine." 

 which in its turn probably moves inshore at certain seasons 

 for spawning or other purposes ; there are also variations from 

 day to day connected apparently with wind and weather. 



But there are in addition certain peculiar appearances and 

 disappearances extending over much longer intervals. Un- 

 fortunately, no statistics are available for an accurate enquiry 

 into this matter, and all sorts of explanations are given for the 

 " disappearance of the Snoek " — the increased number of 

 steamers caUing at the Cape, the unchecked increase of seals, 

 the running of trains, the operations of the Government 

 experimental trawler and of the North Sea trawlers that fol- 

 lowed in its wake, and so on. The scarcity of the fish was 

 accomapnied by its irregular appearances, the fat Snoek 

 appearing more or less late in the season ; and the fish appeared 

 to be restricted more to the colder water of the west coast, 

 never being found to the same extent as formerly on the south 

 coast. At Mossel Bay, for instance, the Snoek were in former 

 times caught in quantities, but since the " disappearance '* 

 they have not been at all abundant. The cause of the falHng- 

 off of the supply was much discussed, and so serious was the 

 matter considered to be that a regulation was issued by Govern- 

 ment forbidding the capture of any Snoek under 24 inches 

 in length. After 15 years of falHng-off, the Snoek again 

 suddenly appeared in great numbers in 1907 and 1908, and in 

 the former year they were got even so far to the east as Port 

 Elizabeth. It appeared as if the early years of plenty were 

 again returning for the Snoek fishery, when these fish were 

 sold, it is said, at a penny each. On some occasions thej^ were 

 actually sold at this price during these two years. During the 



[C.P. 6-'i4.] 



