vi Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society. 



on the west coast, and it was found that in a stretch of ground 

 between Dassen Island and Saldanha Bay a valuable species 

 of Sole (Synaptura microlepis) occurred. On proceeding further 

 north the same Sole was found, some of the specimens being of 

 a remarkably large size, several of them weighing about 9 lbs. 

 In neither of these places, however, did it occur in great abundance. 

 Another species of flat fish was found near Dassen Island (Cyno- 

 glossus capensis), but only occasionally. On extending operations to 

 False Bay it was found that the first mentioned was not to be found, 

 while the second was in fair abundance. Further to the east another 

 species (Synaptura pectoralis) was found in great abundance — in 

 such abundance that it now forms the chief item in the catch of 

 three large trawlers which shortly afterwards commenced operations 

 in this area. The same Sole was found in abundance on a large area 

 of mud near Bird Island, and at a spot several miles beyond East 

 London. The attention of the Natal Government was attracted by 

 these results (a Natal trawler was the first on the new ground after 

 its discovery), and at their request the Cape Government surveyed 

 the coast for trawling ground. There, however, an entirely different 

 state of things prevailed. Suitable ground, with a deposit of fine mud, 

 was indeed found off the Tugela Eiver, and several new species 

 of flat fish were discovered, but all of a small size. There w T as no 

 trace whatever of the Sole so abundant on the east and south coasts 

 of Cape Colony. Another example from the group of the fishes 

 illustrates just as forcibly the effect of the different conditions to be 

 found on the east and w r est coasts of South Africa. This is the 

 Snoek (Thry sites atun), which, being of great commercial importance, 

 is better known than most of the other fishes with respect to its 

 places of occurrence and relative abundance. It is a migratory fish, 

 and during the season appears in immense shoals on the west coast 

 (though of recent years somewhat scarcer, there is evidence of late 

 that it is again reappearing in the same abundance in some places). 

 It is known to occur as far north as Sandwich Harbour, which was 

 at one time open to fishing boats, though now inaccessible through 

 accumulation of sand. Here a fishing station was at one time 

 established for the special purpose of Snoek fishing. It is found 

 farther south in the neighbourhood of St. Helena and Saldanha Bay, 

 where also a fishery has been carried on for many years, and a large 

 export trade to Mauritius and other places carried on. In Table Bay 

 it is not so abundant, though at one time it was found in almost 

 incredible numbers. In False Bay it is less seldom seen, though in 

 good fishing seasons it occurs very abundantly. Further to the east 

 the supply falls off rapidly. It has, however, occasionally been 



