31 



English writers on Ichthyology comment very unfavourably on its 

 merits, and call it a " coarse fish, scarcely fit for the dinner table." At 

 the Cape its qualities are generally and fully appreciated ; in fact, its 

 flesh is highly delicate and but little inferior to that of the Hadok 

 (Gadus iEglefinus). At times it makes its appearance in large shoals. 

 It is then abundantly caught, salted, and dried for exportation. The 

 cured or dried Cape Stok-fish is an excellent dish, far superior to that 

 insipid stuff introduced from Holland or other countries. 



xiPHiuRnm 



41. Xiphiurus Capensis. A. Smith. (KoningMip- 

 visch ; Kings BocJc-fish.) — Body almost cylindrical, 

 moderately robust. Head large ; two rows of larger 

 teeth in the upper, one of smaller ones in the lower 

 jaw; vomer armed with teeth of the same description. 

 Two barbels pending from the under surface of the 

 lower mandible. Pectoral fins of an oval form ; dorsal, 

 caudal, and anal fins united. Tail narrow, tapering, 

 compressed, sword-shaped. Ventral fins, none. Scales 

 very small (A. Smith). Has a large and very firm 

 air-bladder. Flesh-coloured and clouded by a variety 

 and intermixture of hues, difficult to describe. Lower 

 surface, belly, and point of tail tinted with pale purple. 



This fish, in some respects, seems closely allied to the family of the 

 Gadidce, while on the other hand it somewhat resembles the Murcenidce. 

 Although its habitat is deep water, and not (as its name implies) 

 amongst cliffs and rocks, yet it justly deserves the title of King's-fish, 

 being, without exception, the most desirable fish obtainable in our 

 bays. It is rather scarce, is an expert swimmer, appears on the coast 

 as a harbinger of rough, stormy weather during winter, and commonly 

 sells at very remunerating prices. Dr. Andrew Smith, the intelligent 

 South African traveller, gave the first description of this fish in his 

 admirable Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa. It was how- 

 ever known previously to Barrow (1 797), who, in his travels, (page 30) 

 mentions it in the following terms : " Another Blennius, called King's 

 Rock-fish, is sometimes caught (in Table Bay), to which, from its 

 resemblance to the Murcence of the Ancients, Naturalists have given 

 the specific name of Murcenoides." 



I quote this passage for the purpose of contradicting Dr. Smith, 

 who says : "that during one of the several earthquakes, which occurred 

 many years ago, at the Cape, one or more sandbanks were formed near 

 the entrance of Table Bay, and, that not long after, the first specimens 



