CORMORANTS AND THE GIPPSLAND LAKES FISHERY 
97 
at, and quantities of fishes marketed from, all East Gippsland 
inlets were extracted from records supplied by the Depart- 
ment. These figures have been kept from 1911 onwards. 
I should like to record my appreciation of the co-operation 
of many fishermen during brief visits to the lakes, and to 
acknowledge helpful information readily given by Mr. A. J. 
Gilsenan of Paynesville. 
The Gippsland Lakes are situated in the plains of south- 
eastern Victoria, and are separated from the sea only by sand 
dunes. The plains consist of Cainozoic marine and continental 
deposits, ehiefiy of Tertiary age, to a depth of close on 1,500 
feet as shown by bores at Lakes Entrance. Much movement 
and sagging has taken place in the area from Tertiary times 
onwards, and the formation of the lakes is due to the drowning 
of a relatively depressed area which includes the mouths of 
five major streams and some smaller creeks. The major 
streams, the Tambo, Nicholson, Mitchell, Avon and Latrobe 
rivers, drain a considerable area to the north and west of the 
lakes, south of the Main Divide, and are of the utmost impor- 
tance to the fishery. 
The area of the lakes proper is approximately 160 square 
miles, extending about fifty miles east and west with a 
maximum breadth north and south of ten miles. The western 
end, near which the town of Sale is situated, is about 140 
miles east of Melbourne. 
These lakes form the most important estuarine fishery in 
Victoria, and although marine fisheries using modern plant 
and methods may yet be developed in this State, it is probable 
that this area will retain its importance, providing that the 
fishery is preserved. 
Historical. 
The following brief historical outline is included here 
because of its bearing on the artificial entrance channel to 
the lakes, a vital matter to the fishery of the present. 
The settlement of south-east Gippsland commenced in 
1840 by penetration from the north. The desire for new 
pastures provided the impetus ; but at that period the country 
in general was heavily timbered, and markets and suitable 
transport were lacking. About the only means of communi- 
cation with Melbourne was by sailing boat, so that anything 
approaching fairly intensive settlement was not possible. In 
1878 the railway from the capital to Sale at the western end 
of the lakes was opened, and from then development has 
been continuous. With the advent of the railway, and with 
