NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 891 



eyes and lips were covered, in many places to the depth of an 

 eighth of an inch, with Saprolegnia ; the branchise were almost 

 entirely destroyed, and what i-emained was thickly covered with a 

 fungoid growth ; there were white leprous-looking patches here 

 and there on the body and tail, and finally the pectoral fins had in 

 a great part disappeared, the fungus, however, in this case being 

 in all probability largely aided by the attempts of the fish to lift 

 itself out of its natural element, since it had probably i-eceived 

 considerable relief on previous occasions by employing similar 

 means, it being well known that the Saprolegnia will not survive 

 long out of water, Notwithstanding its total blindness, and the 

 disease from which it was sufiering, this fish was in good condition, 

 and its stomach contained the remains of at least three Black 

 Bream, which were most probably found dead at the bottom of the 

 river, having themselves succumbed to the fatal attacks of the 

 fungus ; the intestines of this eel were in a perfectly healthy 

 condition and entirely free from entozoa. As to the reason why 

 this disease has taken so strong a hold on the waters of our 

 National Reserve, I am of opinion that it is in great part due to 

 the long continuance of the drought, as I was informed by the 

 care-taker that the water during the last few months has been 

 almost perfectly stagnant ; to remedy this state of afiairs I would 

 therefore advise — there being absolutely no fish worth mentioning 

 left to preserve — that the flood gates be opened, and all the water 

 be allowed to run off, and so as far as possible dry up the bed of 

 the river, and run off the spores of the fungi, while at the same 

 time the remnant of fish still surviving in the infected waters, and 

 which are chiefly Black Bream and Mullet, would escape to the 

 estuary, in the saline waters of which the Saprolegnia would 

 quickly perish. Mr. Whitelegge has kindly set up slides of the 

 fungus from the eel, and will exhibit them when the meeting is 

 over." 



Dr. Cox pointed out that the epidemic mentioned by Mr. Ogilby 

 was simply due to the unhealthy and unnatural conditions under 

 which the drought had compelled these particular fishes to live, 

 and that there was no ground whatever for any public alarm. 



