125 



dines " at certain seasons appear close inshore, and the Snoek 

 then eat nothing else ; again, when Mackerel congregated in 

 shoals, the Snoek will prey on them in the absence of the 

 " Sardines." If, however, these do not make their appearance 

 at their usual time, the Snoek have to content themselves 

 with what they can pick up. A few years ago (April, 1909), for 

 instance, it was observed that Sardines, Maasbankers, Mackerel, 

 Mullet, and small fish generally, had unaccountably forsaken 

 False Bay for about three months. The Snoek were then 

 found in great numbers near Cape Point at the entrance to the 

 bay ; those caught generally had empty stomachs, but some 

 had eaten various rock-fish and not a few had devoured their 

 own species. 



During the height of the season (April and May) the average 

 catch for a boat has been from 1,000 to 2,000 Snoek, and as 

 many as 2,400 have, it is stated, been caught by one boat, with 

 four men. 



The Kalk Fish {Lepidopus caudatus). 



This is the fish already referred to as being the nearest ally 

 of the Snoek ; it is known in Europe as the Scabbard Fish, and 

 in South Africa as the Kalk-fish, or Kalk-visch. In New 

 Zealand it is called the Frost-fish, as it is usually cast up on 



The Kalk-fish (Lepidopus caudatus, Euphr.). 

 (From Jordan & Everman.) 



the beach in frosty weather, even deliberately leaving the 

 water and becoming stranded on the shore. The fish has the 

 same long flat body and long dorsal fin as the Snoek, but with 

 these characteristics much exaggerated. The body is band-like 

 and may be 5 or 6 feet in length ; the dorsal fin extends the 

 whole length of the body, but does not run into the tail fin, 

 as in the next genus. The teeth are not unlike those of the 

 Snoek, being fang-like, and occur on the roof of the mouth, 

 as well as in the jaws. It has no scales. It might be described 

 [C.P. 6-'i4.] 



r, 



