186 



THE AOBICULTUBAL JOURNAL. 



for fishing, and I was assured by Messrs- 

 Parker and Sontar, who have an intimate 

 knowledge of the waters, that they could 

 occasionally be caught in large quantities. 

 The small number caught might thus be 

 accounted for, but I am convinced that 

 there is not yet more fish in the river than 

 can be provided for, and should therefore 

 recommend that the work of stocking be 

 continued. It might have been advisable 

 to have restricted public fishing somewhat 

 at an earlier date, but, although I am of 

 opinion that the rivers have been opened 

 somewhat prematurely for this purpose, 

 it n?.ay not be expedient to withdraw the 

 privilege now. I recommend, however, 

 that portions of the river opened should 

 not be extended in the immediate future. 

 They might, indeed, with advantage be 

 curtailed, say to part of the Umgeni alone. 



The question as to why the trout are 

 not found in the lower reaches of the 

 river may be explained in view of this. 

 The abundance of food and the absence of 

 competitors render the part of the river 

 examined a very favourable locality for 

 trout, and they" will probably not move 

 out of this unless compelled to do so. 

 The cooler waters of the upper reaches r f 

 the river will also probably be preferred 

 by the trout until they become thoroughly 

 acclimatized, as these conditions moie re- 

 semble those found in Europe. 



It would be instructive to examine the 

 other parts of the river with respect to 

 food supply, temperature, etc., and com- 

 par3 them with those in the parts occupied 

 by the trout. There can be little doubt, 

 however, that those parts in which other 

 fish (such as "scale" fish) occur, cannot 

 be so favourable for trout, not that these 

 other fish may do direct injury to the 

 adult or young vrout, but they will doubt- 

 less compete with them for food. 1 1 should 

 be ascertained accurately what other fish 

 are in the rivers, and upon what they feed. 



On examining a few of the fish I found 

 the ovaries in a fair state of development, 

 and i)robably in about three months the 

 ova would be mature. The jjresent ch.se 

 season seems therefore to be coi'rect, as it 

 would include the spawning season, and 

 also a few months after it, during which 

 the fish would be in poor condition. 



With regard to the condition of the fish 

 themselves, I can assert with confidence 

 that those I saw caught were in no 



respect inferior to the European form. 

 They were well shaped and fully formed, 

 lively and active in their movements. 

 Whether this is true of larger and older 

 individuals I had unfortunately no oppor- 

 tunity of judging. 



Viewing the acclimatisation of trout in 

 Natal as a whole, the enterprise seems to 

 have been remarkably successful, especi- 

 ally in view of the intermittent and not 

 over abundant supply of ova. Great 

 credit is due to those who have succeeded 

 in overcoming the initial difficulties, and 

 the Government has been particularly 

 fortunate in securing the voluntary ser- 

 vices of Mr. Parker in this most 

 important work. 



Generallv speaking, I should say that 

 there has, perhaps, been too little work 

 done in the stocking of the rivers with 

 fi'y and ova, and that they had been open 

 to public fishing somewhat too soon. In 

 natnrnl conditions there is normally iire- 

 geny sufficient only to keep up a definite 

 stock in the river, and it is evident that 

 there is not enough of a surplns to meet 

 the demands of the fishers, and also to 

 quickly stock the many miles of new 

 waters. This will be more apparent when 

 we consider the many rivers of Europe 

 and America where the stock can only be 

 kept up to an adequate amount by con- 

 tinued artificial propagation. 



As to the actual means of stocking in 

 Natal, it is desirable to have a hatching 

 establishment with a stock of breeding 

 fish in ponds, with occasional introduction 

 of ova from elsewhere. This could be 

 done at an expense of £500 a year. An 

 alternative to this is the importation of 

 ova from Europe or Capetown. 



The percentage of loss, however, in the 

 former case has been found to be so high 

 that it seems more feasible to procure ova 

 from the hatcheries in Cape Colony, and 

 it appears highly desirable that some 

 scheme of co-oi)ei"ation should be devised 

 to the mutual advantage of Natal and the 

 Cape. 



I have the honour to be, Sir, 



Your obedient Servant, 



J. D. F. Gilchrist, 



Government Biologist. 



Capetown, llth April, 1901. 



