CORMORANTS AND THE GIPPSLAND LAKES FISHERY 115 
is essentially a fresh-water fish. Furthermore, in a few similar 
though smaller inlets to the east of the Grippsland Lakes there 
has been no downward trend in the annual quantities of Bream 
and other species obtained. This is shown on the accompany- 
ing graphs. At these inlets the natural bars to the entrances 
have not been interfered with, and the result is there is no 
100000 
FIG. 15. 
Fishes marketed annually from three East Gippsland inlets, 1916-1937; 
total quantities. 
crab pest and aquatic plants still fiourish, thus affording food, 
food harbourage, and probably suitable spawning areas for 
the fishes. 
The fact that the productiveness of these inlets is unim- 
paired effectively refutes the suggestion that fishermen’s nets 
have destroyed the aquatic grasses in the main lakes ; the other 
