( 207 ) 
HISTORY OF THE LOCAL NAMES OF CAPE FISH. 
By J. D. F. Giucurist, M.A., B.Sc., Ph.D., 
Government Biologist. 
(Read November 28, 1900.) 
One of the most important factors to be taken into account in any 
scientific inquiry into the physical and biological conditions to be 
met with in South Africa, is the existence of two great ocean currents 
which encounter each other in this region, the one originating in the 
heated Indian Ocean, and bringing with it the climatic condition and 
abundance of forms of animal and vegetable life characteristic of 
more tropical regions, the other coming from the colder Antarctic 
regions and producing a very different effect on the coasts on which 
it impinges. 
We are familiar with the results of investigation into the meteoro- 
logical and biological characteristics associated with the land regions 
under the influence of these currents, but little or no attention has as 
yet been directed to marine life, which there is reason to believe is 
even more interesting in this respect. 
The various kinds of fish that are found at different localities on 
the coast is one of the most striking instances of this, and it was 
while endeavouring to obtain information as to their occurrence, 
variety, and relative abundance at these places that my attention was 
directed to the subject we are about to consider. 
An unexpected difficulty arose as to the names used at different 
places by those who supplied the required information, but who quite 
unwittingly often employed different names to signify the same fish, 
and as often the same names to signify different fish. 
After some personal inquiry and correspondence the various names 
have been in a measure reduced to order, but the treatment of the 
subject is by no means exhaustive, and it was only when it proved to 
be expanding to undue dimensions that it seemed better to give a 
summary of results which might be a nucleus for further research. 
14 
