PROVINCIAL SECRETARY, 
Sir,—I have the honour to submit the following report 
on fishery investigations. Some questions with regard to the 
now important crawfish industry are dealt with, such as 
variation in catches, migratory movements, of importance 
chiefly in connection with the proposed permanent closure 
of certain areas, and the possibility of artificial rearing of 
crawfish, should this become necessary in view of possible 
danger to the industry by over fishing. The results of certain 
experimental nettings are given in detail, in connection with 
the much disputed question of netting in rivers. In a report 
by a voluntary worker, Dr. Fantham, attention is drawn to 
the desirability of investigating the protozoal parasites of 
fishes, a matter which may also have important practical 
bearings. 
In view of the present scarcity of fish and the madequate 
supply, which is unable to meet the growing requirements 
of South Africa, especially at the present time, attention is 
being directed to the desirability of a continuation of the 
survey of the unknown fishing areas of the South African seas, 
and a short memorandum on the subject, drawn up at the 
request of the Scientific and Technical Committee of the 
Industries Advisory Board, is added as an appendix to this 
report. 
Fishing investigations in the Cape Province have sustained 
a loss by the death of Mr. Wardlaw Thompson, who for several 
years has voluntarily devoted himself to the much-needed 
catalogue and descriptions of South African fishes. His third 
list of Cape Fishes, which completes the catalogue of fishes 
of the Cape Province, is included in this report. 
I have the honour to be, 
Sit 
Your obedient Servant, 
)). GIECHRIST: 
Cape Town, 
31st July, 1918. 
[C.P. 3—1918] 
