182 



supply was being seriously endangered by such operations, and 

 the question was felt to be so serious that a Commission of 

 Parliament was appointed to enquire into the matter. The 

 evidence seemed to indicate that many of the common fishes 

 may deposit their eggs on the bottom of the sea. Thus one 

 fisherman, who had had an experience of a life time in fishery 

 matters in False Bay, was of opinion that all fish spawn was 

 on the ground, and that the trawl runs across it, and must 

 destroy it {7'icle Report of Select Committee, p. 13). Another 

 equally experienced fisherman thought, however, that the 

 spawn floats on the surface (p. 18). A fisherman of fifteen 

 years experience at Kalk Bay could not agree with this 

 (p. 21), while another was of opinion that the eggs floated, 

 and could be taken up in the hands out of the water. A 

 practical fisherman of forty-three years' experience considered 

 that the spawn is on the ground, and also floats, adding the 

 additional interesting information : " I have seen the spawn — 

 whether of fish or not I cannot say, but it is alive — little round 

 things like eggs, and they smeil very nasty, like rottvn pumpkins. 

 I have seen it a foot thick on the water " (p. 24). Yet another 

 witness thought that " the fish breed on the ground, but the 

 spawn does not stop at the bottom." Another practical man 

 gave evidence to the effect that the klip-fish deposits its spawn on 

 the seaweed, and it is there destroyed by the trawl (p. 37). On the 

 other hand, in all the instances where the mature eggs had been 

 procured and successfully fertilized on the Government steamer, 

 the '^ Pictcr Faiire," they were found to float on the surface of 

 the water, and only after the larvae had been hatched out some 

 time did they begin to sink to the bottom. It was also brought 

 to the notice of the Commission that it had already been 

 demonstrated in Northern waters that there was only one fish 

 of practical economic importance depositing its eggs on the 

 bottom (the herring), and only a small species of herring 

 {Clupca ocellaia), of little value to the present fishermen, occurs 

 in the Cape seas. On the whole it was felt very necessary that 

 further enquiries should be made into the subject and definite 

 information obtained. Recently facilities have been aftorded 

 by Government for more careful examination on shore of the 

 eggs and larvae procured by means of fine nets and from the 

 mature fish, and the following is a review of some of the most 

 important results. 



The eggs and larvae of the following fish are dealt with : 



Chrysophrys globiceps, C. & V. ... White Stumpnose, p. 183. 



„ gibbiceps, C. & V. ... Red Stumpnose, p. 187. 



Dentex argyrozona, C. & V. ... Silver Fish, p. 188. 



Pagellus mormyrus, Linn. ... ... Zeverrim or Zee-basje, 



p. 188. 



