Report no. 1 (1944)

Item Type monograph

Publisher Provincial Administration of the Cape of Good Hope, Inland Fisheries Department

Download date 30/09/2021 07:13:41

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/32741

INDE:X. (Alphabetical and chronological) PAGE AMERICA-SOUTH AFRICA LINE INC., NEW YORK; generous help in carrying bass and bluegiIls, 1936-39 18 ANDREWS, Thos., Guildford, England, supplier of trout eggs, 1892 3 ATHLONE FISH PONDS, Cape Town; growth of bluegills and tilapia in fertilised ponds .. 21, 26 BARNARD, DR. KEPPEL H. (Acting Director, S.A. Museum): Work on indigenous freshwater fish, 1943 25 Identification of Daphnia magna, 1936 ., 28 Monographs on aquatic insects and crustacea 29 Identification of specimens, 1944 41 BASS, LARGEMOUTH: Negotiations to import, 1926-28 16 Importation by Rand Piscatorial Association, under care of R. J. Neville, February 1928 16 Progress at Jonkershoek and first spawning, Oct. 1929 16, 17 Arrangements with Rand Piscatorial Association 17 Results of planting fingerlings in Cape lakes, 1930 17 First wild breeding in Cape waters, Oct. 1931 17 Rapid increase and growth, 1932-33 17 The last of Neville's bass, 1940 .. 17 Record largemouth bass, Brandvlei lake, 1940 17 Hatchery output, 1944 39 Disease in fingerlings, 1944 .. 40 BASS, SMALLMOUTH: L. A. Day, attempt to obtain in 1930 17 Rand Piscatorial Assn. unsuccessful in obtaining in E~~~ land, 1933 18 Cape Piscatorial Society's negotiations for importing- from America, 1935 ...... 18 Trial shipment in cans unsuccessful, Feb. t937 .. 18 New export equipment, 1937 18, 19 29 smallmouth bass landed at cape Town, 22nd Oct. 1937 19 Rapid growth at Jonkershoek HatChery, 1937-38 19 First spawning at Jonkershoek, Sept.-Oct. 1938 19 Fingerlings flown to Natal and local distribu~ion.il, 1938 19 Rapid establishment in Berg River and other c'"ape waters, 1939-44 19, 20 Hatchery output, 1944 39 BASS, SPOTTED: Stock obtained from state of Ohio, U.S.A., where indigenous, 1939 22 Successful shipment by Powell and Vida, Oct. 1939; war-time difficulties; hardiness; loss of Natal fish 22 First spawning at Jonkershoek Hatchery, Sept.-Oct. 1940 23 Most adaptable species for intensive culture 23 Fry sent to Natal, November, 1940 23 Hatchery output, 1944 39 BLUEGILL SUNFISH: Preliminary enqUiries, 1935 20 Cape-Natal co-operation to import, 1938 20 First consignment, June 1938, unsuccessful 20, 21 New export equipment for October 1938 " 21 Second shipment, October 1938, successful 21 Rapid growth in three weeks and first breeding in Jan. 1939 21 Second breeding, October 1939 .. 21 Widespread distribution and great demand from 1940 21 Sent to Kenya by air, 1942 27 Hatchery output, 1944 39 B

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, ii IN"Dl<;X-Continued. BERG RIVER: PAGE DAY, LIONEL A., INL. Brown trout fry released, 1892 3

Young salmon released, 1898 12 Visit to Maryland, Test section stocked with smallmouth bass, 1938 19 DENDY, J. C.~ Supplied Gambusia BRANDVLE[ ],AKE, WORCESTER: • DE VILLIERS, J. D.: Stocked with largemouth bass, 1930 17 Provincial Secretary First wild breeding of largemouth bass, October 1931 17 Bass of seven pounds caught, 1940 ...... 17 DISTRIBUTIONS: Attempt to establish "millions" in hot springs, 1914 .. 24 Trout ova and fry, f Of pondfish fingerlir BREEDE RIVER: From Jonkershoek I Lachlan MacLean's hatching of brown trout eggs, at wool· EERSTE RIVER:

, washery, 1884 .. ;~ .. 3 Brown trout fry released, 1892 3 Surveyed for trout

Imported brown tro "CANARY KURPER'~ .. .. 2'7 Jonkershoek on UPIl CAPE PISCATORIAL SOCIETY, CAPE TOWN: Brown trout from N<

Opened negotiations for importing smallmouth bass, etc., Scott reports 2 poune ~ Reported very low a from Americl\. 11135 ., ...... • . 18 Al'l'angements with Natal Provincial Administration, 1936 18, 20. 21 Headwaters overstoc Wild trout fry obtail CARP: Reports of trout goil Young salmon escat Warnings re dllngers, 1898 .. 12 Stream improvemenl First official importation, 1896 13 , Firsti breeding at Jonkershoek, 1899 13 EXPENDITURE: ,,. Distribution commenced, 1900 13 On trout acclimatisa Sent to' Transvaal, 1904 .. 14 Grant for fishery W( Demand exceeds supply, 1906 14 Results of financial Chaplin's· warnings, 1911 .. 14 Damage done to trout waters 14 FAIRBRIDGE: Distribution stopped, 1921 .. 14 Chas. A. Fairbridge, W. G. Fairbridge ( CHAPLIN, F. G.: [<'ISH CULTURE: Transfer from Pirie Hatchery to Jonkershoek, Dec. 1907 8, 33 8 Evolved in South AI "Chaplin" hatching boxes, 1908-9 .. Intensity of product Belief in need of research, 1910 .. D Peak year of ova distribution, 1910 9 1"ISH, ORNAMENTAL: Retained after retiring age as Asst. Curator, 1942 10 Demand for fancy g Established tench at Jonkershoek, 1910-12 14 Varieties of goldfish do. perch at Jonkershoek, 1914-27 15 Tropical fisil at Jon do. largemouth bass at Jonkershoek, 1928-1930 16 Production and out] do. smallmouth bass at J onkershoek, 1937-1938 19 do. bluegills at Jonkershoek, 1938-1939 21 FISH, SOUTH AFRICA do. spotted bass at Jonkershoek, 1939-1940 23 Review of Cape im Experiments with e/ "COARSE FISH" (other importations, unsuccessful): Small "mouthbreedel "Dace", 1867 ., 2 Tilapia mossambica, Roach, Rudd and Dace, 1903 15 Tilapia spaarmanii, European Pike, 1929 .. 15 Notes on breeding I Tilapia nigra from] CRABS AND CRAYFISH, FRESHWATER: { .. Tilapia katucnsis fr Japanese freshwater crayfish, obtained 1937-38 .. 30 . Serranochromis thul Inland Fisheries Officer's observations, 1938-39 30 FROGS, CLAWED:

Unsuccessful attempts to acclimatise, 1939-40 30 .~ The ubiquitous freshwater crab .. 31 Notes on life-hist0!1 Value to Science ' DAPHNIA MAGNA: Provincial Administ New fish-feeding technique necessary from 1930 28 eM tput, 1940-1944 Ohio, U.S.A., cultivation of D. magna, 1931 28 Export- to U.S.A., d

Eggs sent from Ohio in 1936 . . . . 28 ,

GILCHRIST, DR. J. ~1 ~First hatching, November 1936, in tanks .. 28 Inland Fisheries Officer's experiments, 1937 29 Government Btologt

Establishment at Jonkershoek Hatchery, October 1937 .. 29 Records brown trod Imported carp, 189~ Concrete culture basins constructed, 1939 .. 29 t L _ Research on cultural technique, 1944 39, 41 Interest in "rnosqu. Suggested impQrtatj 1

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t. INDEX-Continued. iii PAGE DAY, LIONEL A., INLAND FISHERIES OFFICER, NATAL: PAGE 3 '.4,"' ~. 12 Visit to Maryland, U.S.A., 1934 .. 17 ~3a 19 DENDY, J. C.: ~ , Supplied Gambusia top·minnows, 1936 24 i ~7 DE VILLIERS, J. D.: Provincial Secretary of Cape Province 44 ~r 19:ii 17 ~. .. 17 DISTRIBUTIONS: 1914 7 .. 24 Trout ova and fry, free of charge, until 1906 r Of pondfish fingerlings, restricted by warm weather 40 From Jonkershoek Hatchery, 1944 38, 39 teggS, at wool· EERSTE RIVER: 3 3 Surveyed for trout rearing, 1875 3 f'" Imported brown trout ova planted, March 1892 3 Jonkershoek on upper reaches 4 Brown trout from Newlands released, 1892-94 .. 3 ~~ Scott reports 2 pound brown trout, 1894 .. 4 b.... ,to.. 18 Reported very low and dry in lower reaches, 1904 6 ration, 1936 18, 20. 21 Headwaters overstocked with small rainbows, 1909 8 Wild trout fry obtainable in October and November 10 l Reports of trout going to sea, 1920 10 '. 12 Young salmon escaped to, 1897 .. 12 t: 13 Stream improvement work, upper reaches, 1941-42 36 ~ . 13 EXPENDITURE: 13 On trout acclimatisation to 1899 .. 5 ~: 14 Grant for fishery work reduced, 1906 7 ~.. 14 Results of financial depression, 1907 8 14 r' 14 FAIRBRIDGE: ~: 14 Chas. A. Fairbridge, 1867 2 W. G. Fairbridge (Jnr.), 1891 3 FISH 'cULTURE: ~ Dec. 1907 8, 33 8 Evolved in South Africa at Cape Hatcheries 2 Intensity of production on Jonkershoek main site, 1944 39, 40 '.. [) D FISH, ORNAMENTAL: ;1942 10 Demand for fancy goldfish during war, 1941 27 14 Varieties of goldfish bred at Jonkershoek 27, 40 15 Tropical fish at Jonkershoek 28 40 1928-1930 16 Production and output, 1944 39' ~ 1937-~~38 19 .. 21 FISH, SOUTH AFRICAN: ~1940 23 Review of Cape indigenous species 24, 25 ~l) Experiments with eggs of witvis, 1938 25 : Small "mouthbreeders" from Transvaal, 1911 25 2 Tilapia rnossambica, obtained 1940 26 15 Tilapia spaarmanii, obtained 1941 26 ~ ...,. .. 15 Notes on breeding habits .. -, . "'/ Tilapia nigra from Kenya, unsuccessful attempts, 1942-43 27 Tilapia katuensis from N. Rhodesia, 1944 27 I .. 30 SCl'ranochromis thurnbergii from Transvaal, 1944 27 i 30 30 FROGS, CLAWED: 31 Notes on life-history and ha,bitats 31 Value to Science 31 , Provincial Administration undertakes culture, 1941 32 130 28 Output, 1940-1944 39 28 Expo.rt to U.S.A., 1944 40 28 GILCHRIST, DR. J. D. F.: 28 29 Government Biologist, Cape Agricultural Dept., 1897 5 let 1937 29 Records brown trout taken from sea, 1904 7 29 Imported carp, 1896 .. 13 39, 41 , Interest in "mosqUIto control" fish 25 Suggellted importation of freshwater crayfish, 1923 30 iv INDEX-Continued. ~ .. LAWS, INLAND FISHE HEY: PAGE 10 I<'irst Cape Provincial Douglas Hey, B.Sc., appointed Asst. Curator, Jan. 1937 First trout licence, Researches and theses . 10 11 Act of Union, 1910, 'fis Appointed Curator, 1942 . 10 Law enforcement, 19 do. Superintendent of Inland Fisheries, 1943 1 S. A. Hey, Fisheries Survey, Inland Waters, 1926-28 16 LEASES, JONKERSHOEI HUBBS, DR. CARL I..: Lease of 1893 Identification of bluegills and Gambllsia from Jonkershoek, do. 1907 .. 1940 20, 24 do. 1914 .. IMPORTATION OF FISH: do. 1927 .. Transfer to Division ( (For importation dates, see under "Trout", "Bass", etc.) Arrangement with Un Reasons for ...... 2 Suitability of eggs of Salmonidae for importation 2 LIBRARY: Legislation to encourage, 1867 , .. 2 Trout eggs arrive during Cape summer .. 3 Acquisitions, and exch INLAND FISiIERIES OFFICER: LICENCES: Cape Town offlce and information service 45

Field work by, 1944 ., 47 No powers to levy, I!

~' First trout licence, IE INLAND FISHERIE~ ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS Inland Fishing Licenci (and see under "Laws") Introduction. of weeki) JAMESON, DR., 1907 .. 8 MACLEAN, LACHLAN: JOHNSTON, CAMPBELL, 1875 2

International Fisheriel ,,~

JONES, T. yAUGHAN, LUS~KA, N. RHODESIA ~I Imported brown trout

~ ~ JOINT PROVINCIAL INLAND FISHERIES ADVISORY BOARD 44 Supervised Cape Gave; Reported on trout riVE JONKERSHOEK' ESTATE AND HATCHERY: Still moving spirit in Grant from Simon van del' Stel to Jan de Jonker, 1692 34 Lease to, Cape Government by F. G. Watermeyer, 1893 4, 32 MOSQUITO FISH (or "T( First work done and ponds stocked, December 1893 .. 4, 32 Attempt to acclimatise Damage 'by mountain fires, 1894 and 1897 . . . . 4, 5 Remaining trout brought from Newlands Hatchery, 1894 Garnbllsia affinis affini. 4 Garnb1fsia affinis holbTl John L. Scott took over, 1894 ...... 4, 32 . Hatching house and spawning ponds completed, 1894 4, 32 NEVILLE, R. J.: F. G. Chaplin took over, December 1907 ...... 8 33 Development in general interests of inland fisheries .. 9' Importation of largeml Purchase of Estate for forestry research, 1933, and extract from Dr. Wicht's description ...... 34 NEWLANDS HATCHERY: Suitability of hillside site for trout culture, but difficultIes Anneberg Brewery and of extension for pondfish culture .. 35 Brown trout ova impoI Development work on old site, 1939-1942 35 36 Trout retained in pond New extension site allocated, 1942 . 36' Latour left and all'trol Administrative buildings and staff quarters, 1943-44 36,37 OHLSSON, ANDERS, Mol... Development of extension site, 1944 37 New installations on main site, 1944 37 OTTERS: Hatchery output, 1944 38, 39 Destructive visits to J( LANGLOIS, DR. T. H., OHIO, U.S.A.: do. do. Supplied spotted bass for shipment by Powell, 1939 22 Sent eggs of DalJhnia magna, 1936 28' OVA, TROUT: LATOUR, ERNEST: Brown trout ova sent t First professional fish-culturist at Cape, 1892-1894 3, 4, 32 do. (

Left for Pirie Hatchery, Kingwilliamstown, 1894 4 Yield affected by meat L.I&'"ARD, -~. (Curator, Sout!; African Museum), Ul75 Ova produced per trout 3 Scott took 180,000 ova, LAWS, INLAND FISHERIES: Ova -Mnt to T-l'ansvaal : Act No. 10 of 1867 ,...... 2 Poor yieJ.d from large Official caution in permitting trout·fishing to begin 6 Charge of £1 per thoUBi Fish Protection Act, 1893, and proclamation prohibiting Recommended in liell 0

taking of trout, 1894 ...... 6 Orders in excess of sup First-urout-fishing permitted from 1st October: 1903 ., 6 Chaplin posted over17~ Regulations, 1903 to 1906 0 0 0 0 0 0 • 0 •• 6 Importation from Engla "Fishing Bm" introduced 1904, failed to pass at ileven Output from Jonkershol

sesslonil of Cape PlI,rl1ament 6, 7

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.- .' ~~~.. ,~ ::f-'bC~ INDEX-Colltinued. V ....."' f I,AWS, INLAND FISHERIES-Continued: PAGE PAGE First Cape Provincial Fisheries Ordinance, No. 12 of 1911 7 ~. 1937 10 First trout licence, lOs., 1st October, 1911 7 10_ Act of Union, 1910, fisheries under Provincial Councils B f 10 Law enforcement, 1944 45 3 1 it' 8 .. .. 16 LEASES, JONKERSHOEK: Lease of 1893 4, 32 nk~~shoe~: do. 1907 .. 33 f 20, 24 do. 1914 .. 33 I' do. 1927 .. 33­ I Transfer to Division of Forestry, 1933 (1933-1939) 34 etc.) .. Arrangement with Union Government, 1st September, 1939 35 ISS..... 2 2 LIBRARY: r 2 Acquisitions, and exchange system 42 I 3 ~ LICENCES: 45 No powers to levy, 1904 to 1910 6 J 47 V First trout licence, 1st October, 1911 .. 7 ~IONS Inland Fishing Licences sold in 1944 and previous years 46 ~ I Introduction of weekly trout licence, 1944 45, 46­ I 8 MACLEAN, LACHLAN: 2 International Fisheries EXhibition, London, 1883 3 27 Imported brown trout ova, 1884 .. 3 ~Ry'~OA~~ Supervised Cape Government's importations, 1891 3 44 Reported on trout rivers and advised regulations, 1904 6­ I Still moving spirit in acclimatisation work, 1907 8­ Iter. 1692 34 MOSQUITO FISH (or "Top-minnows"): r., 1893 4, 3:2 r93 .. 4, 32 Attempt to acclimatise "millions", 1912 .. 23 4, 5 Gambusia ajfinis ajfinis, 1936 . . ~ . 24 ery, 1894 4 Garnbusia ajfinis holbrookii, 1944 24­ 4, 3:2 ; 1894 4, 3:2 NEVILLE, R. J.: 8, 33 Importation of largemouth bass, 1928 .. 16' ~ies .. 9 I and extract NEWLANDS HATCHERY: , 34 .. it difficulties Anneberg Brewery and Newlands spring, 1891 3 35 Brown trout ova importations, 1892-1894 3 35 36 Trout retained in ponds, 1893, 1894 4­ 36' Latour left and all trout ,removed to Jonkershoek. 1894 4­ 36,37 OHLSSON, ANDERS, M.L.A., 1891 3­ 37 OTTERS: 37 38, 39 Destructive visits to Jonkershoek Hatchery, 1902 U do. do. 1909 8 do. do. 1944 38, 401 939 22 28 OVA. TROUT: Brown trout ova sent by post to distant waters, 1896 4­ do. do. . Natal and O.F.S., 1899 5 3, 4, 3:2 894 ., Yield affected· by meat sheFtages,' 1901-2 and 1915 6,9· 4 4 Ova produced per trout, 1903 6 li75 3 Scott took 180,000 ova, 1904 7 Ova sent to T-vansvaal and Rhodesia, 1904 7. 2 Poor yield from large breeders, 1905 7­ gin 6 Charge of £1 per thousand introduced in 1906 7 .prohibiting Recommended in lieu of fry, 1908 8; 6 Orders in excess of supply, 1909 .. B ~ 903 .. 6 Chaplin posted over 170,000 ova. 1910 6 Importation from England, 1920- ., 100 8S at seven Output .from Jonkershoek Hatchery, 1940-44 3& 6,7 Vl INDE,X--ColitilllleJ.

PAARDE VLEI LAKE: PAGE SURREY) TROUT FAil Stocked with lllrgemouth bass, 1930 17 (F. G. Richmond) : First wild breeding, October 1931 .. 17 (D. F. Leney) Obtl Remarkable growth and increase 17 shipment7 to Cape, PEERS, B. (Cape Town Snake Park), 1937 30 SURVEYS: PERCH, EUROPEAN: Surveys, 1944 by Inland Fisheries First unsucc.essful attempt, 1896 .. 15 Attempts to import spawn, 1900-01 15 TENCH: Consignments of 1914 and 1915 15 Difficulties of breeding, 1916-1926 Hi First unsuccessful I Distribution, 1927 . . . . 15 Consignments from Progress in Paarde Vlei. Jake 15, 16 Spawning at Jonke: Distribuqon, 1912 PIRIE HATCHERY: Economic value (Frontier AcclimatisMion Society, Kingwilliamstown) TRESSELT, FRED, Thl Latour, 1894, and A: N. Stenning .. 4 F. G. Chaplin, left 1907 for Jonkershoek (; TRIMEN, R. (Curator, l Specialisation in trout ova production, 1916 9 l' Importation of Sbasia rainbow ova, 1938 11 TROUT, BROWN: PI.ATANNAS: see "Frogs, clawed". First attempt to im] Second attempt, Lac POWELL, A. M., MARYLAND, U.S.A.: Third importation, : Sent smallmOlith bass, bluegills and spotted bass, 1937-39 .• 18, 20, 22 Some imported ova , Fry released in Lot

~ POLLUTION' OF RIVERS: 146,000 fry hatched Investigations, 1944 .. 41, 45 Another importatior Breeding stock of 4

PUBLICATIONS, 1944 42 First spawning at

(Also se~ cover page) "Colonial bred" sp PUBLICITY,' 1944 .. Poor yield from lar~ 42, 43 Failure of ova impo RAND PISCATORIAL ASSOCIATION: One recorded taken "Loch Levens" and

Attempt to import pike, 1931 15 Shipment of ova fr Importation of perch for Jonkershoek, 1914-15 15 Production, 1940-19~ do. largemouth bass for Jonkershoek, 1928 16 Tilapia spaarmanii to Jonkershoek,. 1941 26 TROUT, RAINBOW: . RESEARCH: Ova imported, 1896, Successful importat

Chaplin's belief ill, 1910 9 First rainbow eggs

Douglas Hey, low fertility of brown trout, 1937-40 10 Controversy on ~igr do. culture of Clawed frogs, 1941 3~ • Rapid growth in CI By professional officers and students, 1944 .. 41 Shipment of ova fr Controversies re orii SALMON, ATLANTIC:_ Shasta rainbows fr( First attempt to import ova, 1875 2 Production, 1940-194 Importations of ova, 1896 and 1897 11, 12 Rapid growth of young salmon, 1897-98 12 VIDA, ALBERT M. (m Escape into Eerste River and release in Berg River 12 Brought shipments ( Third attempt with salmon ova, 1906 12 bass to South Afrie: Eastern Province experiments, 1898 12 SAUER, HON. J. W., 1891 3 VON BONDE, DR. CEO

Assisted in negotiat S~OT'T, JOHN L.: Visit to LeWistown"

;__J Appointed to Jonkershoek Hatchery, 1894 4, 32 . ~ Visited Scotland, 1903 .., 6 WATER FLEAS, see Da Year of best output, 1904 7 Left Jonkershoek. 1907 8 WATERMEYER, F. G.,.

SIVEWRtGHT, SIR JAS., 1892 3 , WATER TEMPERATU~

SMARTT, HON. DR. THOS., 1900 13 Scott's reports, 18~ STENNING, A. N. PIRIE HATCHERY 4 In fish tanks at sea, INDEX-Continued. vii

PAGE PAGE SURREY) TROUT FARM, ENGLAND: • 17 (F. G. Richmond) Sent tench for Jonkershoek, 1910-11 14 17 (D. F. Leney) Obtained largemouth bass from Holland for fir shipment to Cape, 1927-28 .. 16 ,­ 30 SURVEYS: Surveys, 1944 41 by Inland Fisheries Officer, 1944 47 15 15 TENCH: 1.3 First unsuccessful attempt, 1896 .. 14 15 Consignments from England, 1910-11 14 15 Spawning at Jonkershoek, November 1911 14 15, 16 Distributton, 1912 14 Economic value 14

Itown) TRESSELT, FRED, Thurmont, Maryland, U.S.A., 1938 20 4 o TRIMEN, R. (Curator, S.A. Museum), 1891 " 3 9 11 TROUT, BROWN: First attempt to import ova, 1875 2 Second attempt, Lachlan MacLean, 1884 .. ::l Third importation, E. Latour, 1892 3 18, 20, 22 Some imported ova planted in Eerste River, March 1892 ::l .. 1937-39 .. Fry released in Lourens, Breede and Berg Rivers, 1892 3 146,000 fry hatched at Newlands, 1892-93 ::l Another importation of ova, February 1894 4 41, 45 Breeding stock of 400 at Jonkershoek, end of 1894 .. .< 4 42 First spawning at Jonkershoek Hatchery, June 1895 4 "Colonial bred" spawners in 1898 5 Poor yield from large trout, 1902 .. 5 4')~, 43 Failure of ova importation in 1902 6 One recorded taken from sea in 1904 7 "Loch Levens" and "Farios", 1905 7 15 Shipment of ova from England, 1920 10 15 Production, 1940-1944 38 k, 1928 16 26 TROCT, RAINBOW: Ova imported, 1896, all bad on arrival .. 5 Successful importation, 1897 .. 5 9 First rainbow eggs stripped at Jonkershoek, 1st: July, 1899 5 ~O lU Controversy on migratory tendencies and inter-breeding, 1901 5 I ::l2 Rapid growth in Cape waters, 1902 5 41 Shipment of ova from England, 1920 .. 10 Controversies re origin and status of rainbOw trout 10, 11 Shasta rainbows from Pirie Hatchery, 1941 .. 11 1940-1944 2 Production, 38 11, 12 VIDA, ALBERT M. (m.v. "City of New York"): 12 er .. 12 Brought shipments of smallmouth bass, bluegills and spotted 12 bass to South Africa, 1937-1939 .. 18, 20, 22 12 VON BONDE, DR. CECIL (Director of Fisheries, Marine): 3 Assisted in negotiations re American importations. 1935-39 IS Visit to Lewistown, Maryland, U.S.A., JUly 1937 18 ;. i] 4, 32 6 WATER FLEAS, see Daphnia magna. 7 WATERMEYER, F. G., JONKERSHOEK, 1893 8 4, 32 3 ,~ WATER TEMPERATURES: 13 Scott's reports, 1896; do. 1904 .• 4, 7 4 I In fish tanks at sea in Tropics, October 1937 and 1939 19, 22 I I I· -

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viii INDEX-Collti11ued. PAGE WATER RIGHTS AT JONKERSHOEK 33, 36 i" , WATER SNAILS: Imported Lilllnaea peregrea, established 1911 9 .. Australian Red" water snail 31 Carriers of fluke diseases .. 14 WATER WEEDS: Lack of, at Jonkershoek, 1908 8 Planted in ponds, 1909 .. 8 Imported willowmoss and lakewort established, 1911 9 Further importations, April 1912 .. 9 WICHT, DR. C. L. (Forestry Research Officer): Description of Jonkershoek Estate, 1937 34 WOLSELEY (Ceres Road):' , Trout ova hatching boxes, 1884 .. 3

Xenopus lae1;is, see "Frogs, Clawed". The Inland Fi \ ;, . tion of the Cape 0 on 1st September, was a ban on the I

The present re Department, but is h, of fish culture in tl continuous work at

For these reaS. basis of reference j a documented reCOl species now culture

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" 34 I . INTRODUCTION.

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The Inland Fisheries Department of the Provincial Administra­ tion of the Cape of Good Hope came into being in its present form on 1st September, 1943, during the period of the war when there was a ban on the printing of official reports.

The present report is not only the first to be published by this Department, but is also intended to mark another event in the history of fish culture in this Province, viz., the c«>mpletion of fi~ty years of continuous work at the Jonkershoek Hatchery. ,

For these reasons, and because it is hoped that it will form a basis of reference for a new series, the first part takes the form of a documented record of the introduction and" a~limatisation of the species now cultured at the Hatchery, and of some failures.

The early endeavours of fish culturists at:the Cape were devoted mainly to the establishment of trout, and they are therefore given pride of place in this account.

The succeeding parts deal with the development of the hatchery site and with tht; general activities of this Department. 2 , 1. which financed the] TROUT. of the S.A. Museun In the Northern Hemisphere, the culture- of freshwater fish has the Liesbeeck River

been practised for many centuries and it has become a science based for trout rearing. on a vast background of experience and extensive modern research. Thompson~ 1913.J In Southern Africa, where climatic conditions differ from those of In 1883, Mr. L the countries which have produced the greater part of the literature Exhibition in Londe of pisciculture, circumstances ruled that it should be a comparatively trout culture. As ( recent development. The evolution of fish culture in South Africa MacLean had excer: has run concurrently with that of the Cape hatcheries, and from he imported 20,000 these institutions there is a background of recorded experience washery near \Vols, covering a period of over half a century. River. It is record< , The fact that there i'5 a paucity of indigenous freshwater fishes all the fry were poi in the streams of the southern and eastern coastal areas of South lining of the hatchir Africa, when judged: by the standards of the angler and the cook, in a pond until 189

led the thoughts of residents of the older colonies to the possibilities although the import

of importing more desirable species from Europe. Little could be ~ actual experience a \ j done until ocean ;'corpmunications began to be accelerated with the difficulties in the ha advances of the nineteenth century. In the eighteen-sixties, both they arrive in the salmon and brown trout were introduced to Australia and Tasmania for the purpose; an by the expedient of storing boxes containing their eggs, bedded in the temperature in moss, under tons of ice-blocks in an insulated structure in the hold Appcn. VI, G.53jU of the vessel. Vessels carrying the iced eggs of salmon and trout were rounding the. Cape en route to Australia before the opening of the The cost of th t Suez Canal, but there is no record that similar attempts were made and his associates, b to bring these fish to South Africa at that period. [" Acclirmatisation funds for further a of SalmoQidae to Antipodes". Nicols, 1882; and" Fish and Fisheries 1891. the Han. Mr of N.S. Wales", Tenison-Woods, Govt. Printer, Sydney, 1883.J supervisiori of the \\ of the S.A. Museull P.• The growing sentiment for the improvement of the inland Ohlsson, a member fisheries found expression in August, 1867, in the first fisheries I legislation to be enacted in the Cape of Good Hope, an "Act for with this committee Encouraging the Introduction into Waters of this Colony of Fishes hatchery at the Ann not native to such Waters, respectively". The text of this Act (No. water of a uniform 10 of 1867) made it clear that" Divers private individuals are or may Newlands spring. 1 be willing to introduce the same, or the spawn or fry thereof, into alTange for the sUf certain rivers or waters of this Colony, if there be provided by law accustomed to the t means for protecting the same fish, etc., when introduced"; but this [Letters, S.A. Musl !:c Act went no further and did not contemplate any government action In March, 1892 •• a1~, or expenditure in relation to the importation or cultivation of fish. the work, arrived.! There is no record of any steps being taken under this Act, and it supplied by Thos.; seems to have faded into oblivion. [Act 1O/'67.J officially recorded th W. W. Thompson (who, as an official of the Agricultural Depart­ when Latour lande4

ment, had access to the earlier records), says that Mr. Chas. A. the apparatus was ( ~ Fairbridge, the prime mover in the matter of the Act of 1867, a little brook above­ introduced some golden carp and dace from England to his garden The succeeding box A>ond at Sea Point, but that nothing of practical value seems to have divided between a i

"been done. Thompson also records that later, some leading men in and a stream ninni the Cape Peninsula, "encouraged by the success of acclimatization .L~rens River, Sol

work i\1 Australia ", tried to revive the idea of introducting European importation of 80,OG fish. He quotes the files of the Cape Argus of the period, that in Breede and Berg ~. 1875 a Mr. Campbell Johnston brought out a consignment of salmon l;lqring 1892 and 18 and ti'but eggs in the ice-house of the s.s. Windsor Castle. Some that he hatched so were landed at Cape Town and the remainder taken on to Natal, but [Letters in collect1 none survived the voyage. Two members of the private syndicate

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,,"'-~ -.--:-';"'. - .'.;,;-.<,.;i:'. ,­ 3 .• '04." ..... which financed the project, Mr. Fairbridge and Mr. Layard (Curator of the S.A. Mu,seum), had previously explored the Eerste River and ater fish has the Liesbeeck River in the Cape Peninsula to find suitable localities science based for trout rearing. [" Sea Fisheries of the Cape Colony"; TV. W. ern research. Thompson, 1913.J rom those of In 1883, Mr. Lachlan MacLean visited the International Fisheries the literature Exhibition in London, and saw there the great possibilities of artificial comparatively trout culture. As Cape Town agent for a mail steamship line, Mr.

t. South Africa MacLean had exceptional facilities at his disposal, and early in 1884 "es, and from he imported 20,000 brown trout ova. These were taken to a wool­ Ced experience washery near \Volseley, supplied with water from the upper Breede I. River. It is recorded that 17,000 eggs were hatched, but that nearly feshwater fishes all the fry were poisoned by the action of the soft water on the zinc b.reas of South lining of the hatching troughs which were used. Three trout survived i and the cook, in a pond until 1890, when one of them weighed three pounds, and ;the possibilities although the importation did not provide stock for the rivers it gave Little could be actual experience and aroused much interest. One of the greatest frated with the difficulties in the handling of trout ova imported from Britain is that ~n-sixties, both they arrive in the Cape summer when most waters are tco warm a and Tasmania for the purpose; and in the 1883 experiment ice was used to reduce 'eggs, bedded in the temperature in the hatching troughs. [Trout. Early History. ture in the hold Appen. VI, G.53j1898, mtd letters ill records.J n and trout were ~ opening of the The cost of the initial work had been borne by Mr. l\lacLean mpts were made and his associates, but in 1890 the Cape Government agreed to provide funds for further attempts to be made on a larger scale. In Octobe!", r< Acclirmatisation de~egated ish and Fisheries 1891, the Han. I\fT. ]. W. Sauer, Colonial Secretary, the ley, 1883.J supervision of the work to Mr. L. MacLean, Mr. R. Trimen (Curato,-' Fairbrid~e : of the inland of the S.A. Museum) and Mr. W. G. (Jnr.) . Mr.AndeTs Ie first fisheries Ohlsson, a member of the Cape Legislative Assembly, was associated with this committee and placed at its disposal accommodation for a Ie, an "Act for :olony of Fishes hatchery at ihe Anneberg Brewery, N ewlands, near Cape Town, where water of a uniform cool temperature could be taken from the famous )f this Act (No. Newlands spring. The Cape Agent-General in L;ndon was asked to Juals are or may arrange for the supply of trout ova "and at the same time a man fry thereof, into ~ent provided by law accustomed to the treatment of ova, etc." to be to Cape Town. luced "; but this [Letter5, S.A. AI useUJ1t collection.] JVernment action In March, 1892, Mr. Ernest Latour, the.pisciculturist chosen ior Itivation of fish. the work, arrived in Cape Town with boxes of brown trout ova this Act, and it supplied by Thos. Andrews, of Guildford, Surrey, England. 1t is officially recorded that the hatching boxes at Newlands were not ready 'icultural Depart­ when Latour landed with the first consignment. Latour wrote: '" As t Mr. Chas. A. the apparatns was not ready, I took 60,000 ova and planted them in e Act of 1867, a little brook above Stellenbosch. So were the first trout introduced. ld to Ris garden The succeeding boxes of eggs gave some 60,000 fry and these were re seems to have divided between a pond at Newlands, some "leis on the Cape Flats, leading men in and a stream running through Sir ] as. Sivewright's property (the f acclimatization Laurens River, Somerset West); and the fry resulting from th~ ucting European importation of 80,000 additional eggs were portioned out between the ~ period, that in Breede and Berg Rivers." A large proportion of the ova imported unent of salmon d.4ring 1892 and 1893 did not survive the voyage, but Latour recorded If Castle. Some that he hatched some 146,000 brown trout fry in all at Newlands. on to Natal, but [Letters in collection of Natal Inland Fisherie.¢ Dept.] Jrivate syndicate t .

o

imported frozen meat for the partial failure of the ova crop in the 1902 winter, when 85,000 ova stripped from 106 females were about empower the chargil , l 50 per cent. useless. Whilst hoping that the return of local fresh to trout and it pass meat supplies would improve matters, Scott declared his belief in the next session. .Tl increasing the natural food of the water to bring Hatchery trout into innocents" at each ( breeding condition., He reported destructive visits by otters, and had Parliament. and it trapped one of these animals. The complete failure of a shipment of were handed on to t Its main proposals , 1(' 15,000 brown trout ova, sent out from Scotland "as a change of blood" in April, 1902, was also recorded in a rather gloomy report. of the Cape Provin' imposed as from lsI [G.59-'03.] Trout Prot. AsS'n. 1 But for 1903, Scott was able to tell that he had enjoyed the most successful year since the Jonkershoek Hatchery was started. He had At the Jonkersl been back on his native heath during April and May, and returned in the water temperatt time to strip 70,000 'eva from 78 brown trout hens, and 80,000 ova degrees Fahr.; but : , from 85 rainbow hens, sending 27,000 eyed ova away by post and ova except to cause planting out nearly 90,000 trout fry. He claimed that some of the biggest output, as l: young trout had grown to six inches long when they were 4! months trout to 259, and th old. [G.42-'04.] Qva, but with a hig \ eyed ova by post, in The earlJl d4ys of trout acclimatisaton were remarkable for the distributed 104,500 ) extreme of official caution in permitting any attempts to harvest the that a brown trout j crop; and not until 1903-ten years after the first release of trout sea in a' mullet seine fry-were any rivers opened to fishing, and by that time trout up to of False Bay into , five or six pounds in weight could be taken in the Eerste River. He had opened this A Cape Gover'nment proclamation of February 12th, 1894 in its stomach; and t (under the Fish Protection Act, 1893), had made it illegal for any been taken by the no person to fish for or destroy any trout in the waters of the Colony, of a trout being tal unless duly authorised thereto in writing by an officer acting under have been reports 01 instructions from the Secretary for Agriculture. There is no record been authenticated. of any permits being granted under this section. [Proc. 56/,94, sect. 5.] . In 1905, Scott ( Hatchery when the) The first permissive proclamation was that of September 8th, productive as a gn 1903, which legalised trout-fishing in the Eerste, Berg, Breede and occupy the same po Hex rivers and their tributaries (as well as in certain rivers near of both species had Kingwilliamstown which had been stocked by the Frontier Acclimatisa­ cause, and he stated tion Society), from 1st October until 31st March; provided that the years old. The out person fishing had obtained a permit from a Resident Magistrate shortage of "carboy (without fee) and had gained the consent of the riparian owner notable that at this concerned. The only legal method was fishing with rod, line and trout" and" Brown :artificial fly, and a size limit of twelve inches was imposed. A daily reports) , and classe bag limit of six trout was added in 1906. [Proc. 273/'03 and Proc. "Farios". [G.5l-'Ot: ;34{)/,06.] In March, 1904, Mr. Lachlan MacLean and his associates Dr. Gilchrist st reported that some of the rivers in the Western Districts, particularly reduced, a charge d

( the Eerste and Lourens, ran very low in February and March made in future, as ti ., and that some of the lower pools had actually dried up, causing had been issued fre~

mortality amongst the big trout. They advised the Secretary for The report for, . ~

Agriculture to close the trout fishing at the end of January in the by Scott, and very I Western Districts, and this was done, and in succeeding proclamations wit1l- 95 per cent. f~

it was further restricted to close on 15th January. The Government so degrees Fahr. in 1

,~ .. could not give effect to another recommendation of levying a lOs. and 97,100 fry dist~

trout licence without a parliamentary amendment to the Act of 1893. numbered 819, andJ l

~" " k"'''Fishing Bill was introduced by the Government in 1904 to remained for distrib~

I ~

"'-----­ 7 e Ova crop in the females were about empower the charging of a trout licence and give further protectiQn to trout and it passed its second reading, but was then held over to rn of local fresh the next session. This unfortunate Bill was one of the "slaughtered ared his belief...,...in . innocents" at each of seven annual sessions of the old Cape Colonial atchery trout mto Parliament and it had failed to become law when such matters by otters, and had were hand~d on to the Cape Provincial Council at the time of Union. e of a shipment of Its main proposals were incorporated in the first Fisheries .Ordinance "as a change of of the Cape Province, No. 12 of 1911, and, a lOs. trout hcence was er gloomy report. imposed as from 1st October, 1911. [Minute book, W.D. Game and Trout Prot. Assn. 1886-1914.J d enjoyed the most as started. He had At the Jonkershoek Hatchery, in the spawning season of 1904, ay, and returned in the water temperature was unusually high, remaining at 54 to 55 ns, and 80,000 ova degrees Fahr.; but Scott said that this had no effect upon the trout away by post and ova except to cause them to develop more quickly. It was his year of kl that some of the biggest output, as he had increased his stock of spawnin~ female ~ey were 4! months trout to 259, and they gave him a rather moderate yield Of 180,000 ! ova, but with a high percentage of fertility. He despatched 71,500 eyed ova by post, including some to Rhodesia and the. Trapsvaal, and t remarkable for the distributed 104,500 young trout to local waters. Dr. Gllchnst recorded :mpts to harvest the that a brown trout female of 13i- inches long had been caught in the lrst release of trout sea in a mullet seine-net operated at Muizenberg, which is at the head hat time trout up to of False Bay into which both the Eerste and.. Lourens rivers flow. the Eerste River. He had opened this trout and found two small mullet and a gurnard ebruary 12th, 1894 in its stomach; and he mentioned that he had heard that others had de it illegal for any been taken by the nets. Forty years have gone by since this instance aters of the Colony, of a trout being taken in salt water was officially recorded. ,There officer acting under have been reports of other captures by net fishermen, but none have There is no record been authenticated. [G.42-'04 and G.70-'05.J [Proc. 56/,94, sect. In 1905, Scott decided that it did not pay to retain trout at the Hatchery when they had become very large, as they were not so of September 8th, productive as a greater. number of smaller breeders which could ~, Berg, Breede and occupy the same pond space. His average yield of ova from trout certain rivers near of both species had fallen off in numbers, apparently from the above Frontier Acclimatisa­ cause, and he stated that he was carrying forwara trout of 2 to 4 11; provided that the years old. The output had been smaller, and he complained that Resident Magistrate shortage of "carboys" had hampered the distribution of fry. It is the riparian owner notable that at this period Scott ceased to refer :to "Loch Leven with rod, line and trout" and "Brown trout" (which had been the practice in earlier as imposed. A daily reports), and classed them all as brown tnmt, or sometimes as :. 273/'03 and Prol:. " Farios". [G.51-'06.J

and his associates Dr. Gilchrist stated that as funds for fishery work had been Districts, particularly reduced, a charge of £1 per 1,000 for trout ova or fry would be ebruary and March made in future, as up to this stage all the products of the Hatchery Y' dried up, causing had been issued free, and no trout fishing licence had been levied. :l the Secretary for The report for 1906 is of interest, as it was the last rendered 1 of January in the by Scott, and very short. He claimed to have stripped 171,000 ova eeding proclamations with 95 per cent. fertility. The water temperature had been around 'y. The Government .sO degrees Fahr. in a cold winter. 51,000 eyed ova had been posted, n of levying a lOs. and 97,100 fry distributed to local waters. The stock trout on hand o to the Act of 1893. numbered 819, and it was stated that some 15,000 mixed yearlings ernment in 1904 to remained for distribution at the end of the year. [G.34-'07.J , .

8

This was a time of serious financial depression and retrenchment, , and the annual Parliamentary grant for running the Jonkershoek Hatchery' had been reduced to under £40O--which included Scott's to the Provinci remuneration. Mr. Lachlan MacLean was still the moving spirit of A.120jXj2, em the body of sportsmen interested in the success of trout acclimatisa­ tion in the Western Province: had it had not been for this influence, J:he distril there is little doubt that the Jonkershoek Hatchery would have ceased 1910, and 171,( t to exist at this period. Mr. MacLean headed a deputation to Dr. all over South Jameson in March, 1907, and received the assurance that the grant been a greater would be increased to £500, "which will enable the work at the rainbow ova. C Hatcheries to be carried out satisfactorily." Mr. MacLean did his particularly on best for his compatriot, but Scott was unsettled and left Jonkershoek of the fate of 1 during the year. There was no official report for 1907, but it is known drop down to that a number of ypung trout were removed from the Hatchery ponds of water plants , and liberated in local streams after Scott had left. [W.D.G. T.A. moss (Fontinal minute book ap,d reports, Apt. '07.J the imported , snail brought John L.Scott had acquired a sound practical knowledge of fish encouraged to c

culture at Dumfries, and his letters show that he was well acquainted in the ponds. :

~

l~er~ture with the of the day. His reports to Dr. Gilchrist and fry. [C.P. 2-1~ Lachlan MacLean show him to have been an intelligent observer who was keen to adapt his methods to suit local conditions, and he The ponds left a faithful record of his pioneer discoveries. ducing more p consignment of . Mr. F. G. Chpplin came from the Pirie Hatchery, Kingwilliams­ marsh marigol( town, and assumed duty as Curator of the Jonkershoek Hatchery in water lobelia, h t December, 1907. At that time there were 19 ponds, but a notable end of 1914 0 lack of aquatic vegetation and shade. He thought that very doubtful lished. In 1912 results had been obtained from the previous custom of distributing he sent out 1'79, veI'y young trout fry and using for this purpose cumbersome glass output was mai carboys (originally used for importing acids). Government Notice small lot of tre No. 593 of 1908 had provided for the issue of "eyed ova" in lieu well. [MS. reJ of fry, and. fry were not recommended. As a result, more orders Although l had been received than could be filled. Portable hatching boxes were the addition of being made in Stellenbosch under supervision, and could be bought this could not I by applicants. 153,810 eyed ova of both species of trout were distri­ in 1915 as the 1 i \ buted in 1908, and only about 16,000 fry. [G.31-'09, Append. XVI like his predecl for '08.J set-back in ova In 1909, eight new ponds were made and much improvement work handed over til was done, including new layouts for the pond surroundings, stone­ position to med lining of furrows, new water controls and the planting of aquatic vegetation. The trout had used the spawning races built in 1908, so In 1916 thl that the majority of the ripe females were trapped instead of having rose above 100, to be netted from the ponds. The reports from the users of portable Hatchery did no floating hatching boxes for eyed ova had been most satisfactory. extent as the F Orders were still in excess of supply, and 123,000 ova were sent out, advantages for 1 ( and 15,500 trout fry. The Curator noted that the headwaters of the sales. The PiriE Eerste River were getting overstocked with small rainbow trout. Acclimatisation I

received an aml .~ Two dog otters, weighing 45 pounds each, had been trapped. [G. 10­ 1910.J . later from the . ..., and sell a fairl".T After the Act of Union of 1910 had committed the control of pay expenses. 11

all inland fishery matters to the four Provincial Councils, the Jonkers­ mental instituti4

hoek Trout Hatchery was continued by the Provincial Administration interests of inl~

~,of

the Cape of Good Hope, and the Curator submitted his reports nearly all tho~

eminently favo~ cerned there w~

1 .and retrenchment, .. 4."' the Jonkershoek included Scott's to the Provincial Secretary. [Old Records, A.120jCj23, batch 1, and e moving spiri!-.oof· A.120jXj2, earlier batches.] f trout acclimatisa­ The distribution of eyed trout ova was greatly increased in for this' influence, ~. would have ceased 1910, and 171,680 were sent away and very few fry. Reports from deputation to Dr. all over South Africa on hatching results were good, and there had ce that the grant been a greater demand from Natal for brown trout ova than for e the work at the rainbow ova. Chaplin put on record his belief in the need for research, . MacLean did his particularly on the natural food supply in the rivers and the problem d left Jonkershoek of the fate of the larger trout, from 5 lb. to 10 lb., which tended to 7, but it is known drop down to the lower reaches of the rivers. In 1911, two kinds f the Hatchery ponds of water plants, imported from England, Viz., lakewort and willow­ ; ldt. [W.D.G.T.A. moss (Fontinalis), had become established at the Hatchery, as had the imported water snail, (Limnaea peregrea), and an indigenous snail brought from the Eastern Province; and the Curator felt ~l knowledge of fish encouraged to continue his work of increasing the natural food supply 'was well acquainted in the ponds. In that year he sent out 140,000 trout ova and 14,000 ) Dr. Gilchrist and fry. [C.P. 2-1912 for 1910 and c.P. 9-'12 for 1911.] • intelligent observer The ponds were gradually reconstructed with the view to pro­ J. conditions, and he ducing more plants and aquatic life, and in April, 1912, another consignment of plants arrived from Britain, including water plantain, chery, Kingwilliams­ marsh marigold, great and lesser spearwort, Sagittaria arrowhead, ;ershoek Hatchery in water lobelia, bogbean, brooklime and Vallisneria spiralis, and by the ~onds, but a notable end of 1914 Chaplin reported that some of these plants were estab­ it that very doubtful lished. In 1912, working with the help of only one native labourer, stom of distributing he sent out 179,000 ova and trout fry, and 123,000 in 1913. A similar se cumbersome glass output was maintained in 1914, and tt is interesting to 'note that a Government Notice small lot of trout ova had been sent to MalJritius and had, hatched "eyed ova" in lieu well. [MS. rept. A. 120jC/23, and MS. for 1914.] . result, more orders Although he had come to attribute better hatching results to hatching boxes were the addition of more natural food to the diet of the breeding trout, md could be bought this could not make up for lack of butchers' offals. which occurred of trout were distri­ in 1915 as the result of a meat shortage due to waf conditions; and i1-'09, Append. XVI like his predecessor Scott, in 1900 and 1901, Chaplin suffered a set-back in ova production, and some of the o~ders on hand were :h improvement work handed over to the Pirie Hatchery, which was then in a better surroundings, stone- position to meet the demand. [MS. for 1915.] planting of aquatic In 1916 there was some improvement a~d ova production again ,ces built in 1908, so rose above 100,000; but from this stage onwards the Jonkershoek led instead of having Hatchery did not specialise in the production of trout ova to the same the users of portable extent as the Pirie Hatchery, Kingwilliamstown, which had certain n most satisfactory. advantages for this work and a greater need to obtain revenue from I() ova were sent out, sales. The Pirie Hatchery, which had been fonnded by the Frontier b.e headwaters of the Acc1imatisation Society contemporaneously with that at Jonkershoek, mall rainbow trout. received an annual grant-in-aid from the Colonial Government and ,een trapped. [G. 10­ I ~ later from the Cape Provincial Administration, but had to produce I and sell a fairly large number of trout eggs each season in order to nitted the control of pay expenses. The Jonkershoek Hatchery, as befitted a purely govern­ :ouncils, the Jonkers­ mental institution, was developing on more general lines in the incial Administration interests of inland fisheries. Trout were by then well established in iubmitted his reports nearly all those regions of South Africa where conditions were eminently favourable, and as far as the Cape Province was con­ cerned there was little need for the replenishment of public waters. , 10 III The Jonkershoek Hatchery had, trout ova and fry available every are subspecies, varief ,: season for the " seeding" of new waters and to meet a certain amount true sea-going "stee of private demand, but it became obvious that the country was in structural -characters ., _I; need of other kinds of fish, and that further acclimatisation and another. After aboul experimental work was needed. [A.120/C/23 and K/2, MS. reports] become inextricably In February, 1920, a shipment of brown and rainbow trout ova to have included stoc was imported from England and arrived in good condition, but which had been selec Chaplin did not think that the young trout from these imported ova for the commercial r were any better than fish bred at the Hatchery or taken wild from mixed strains of rain

the Eerste river nearby. 'In fact, the Eerste river during October 1931, alleged pure ....h and November everyy~ teemed with young trout, and there was from American hatd little trouble in getting'a supply. On several occasions in 1920 Chaplin rainbows from the had heard that trout had been caught in the sea in nets by fishermen said to be both non at the Strand arid other places on the False Bay coast, but the Needham, an authori reports were not substantiated. He thought that such reports had doubt on the latter become more frequent than in the past, and suggested that the spawning habit had marking of small .trout in the Eerste river should be undertaken, and American breeding e a reward offered to the professional sea fishermen for the return of­ In 1938, the Frc discs or any trout taken in the sea. By this means, he thought that imported some ova f knowledge would be gained of the movements of trout in fresh and shasta rainbow ova salt water and of rate of growth after marking. [MS., Feb., '21.] eggs, grew rapidly al In' 1935 it was decided to appoint an Assistant Curator with a only one hen and fiv. view to ensuring a successor to Chaplin. Applications for the post about 800 eggs in Jt were invited, and D. Hey, B.Sc., was appointed as from January, one of the shasta COl 1937. In addition to 'routine training under Chaplin, this officer selected breeding from a pai as a. subject for special study an investigation of the low fertility growing-out. By Ju of brown trout eggs at the Jonkershoek Hatchery, which had been a 45 cocks surviving f factor limiting production ever since the first brown trout were year-old shastas wer stripped by Scott. The findings of this investigation were published eggs resulted. Thus, in three papers (ef. literature list), as a result of which Hey was a solitary pair of fish awarded a M.Sc. and subsequently a D.Sc. degree by the University imported ova had tJ of Stellenbosch. In 1942 Dr. Hey was appointed Curator of. the months, and were vi Jonkershoek Hatchery with Mr. Chaplin, who had reached pensionable 1939 winter.) [RepG age, retained in the capacity of Assistant Curator. Some shasta ov In the 45 years which have passed since rainbow trout were Jonkershoek Hatcher

i:~­ first distributed from the J onkershoek Hatchery there have been In January, 1943, VI .. ~; many controversies about the origin and status of these fish. They counted, measuring f are native to the Pacific slope of North America, but the eggs sent by amputating the ac to South Africa came from British trout farms. In Britain, the distinguish them fro main criticism of the rainbow has been based on the assumption that rainbows ripened fOJ it is a migratory trout, going to the sea like the British sea trout but it happened that

(Salmo trutta), and only profitable to stock in enclosed waters. This these yielded about : t has not been a general rule with' the rainbow trout in South Africa, that they spawned s~

and they have become firmly established in many rivers. Another and at the same time l ~ . objection rafsed against the rainbow in Britain is that it does not This single chal

spawn until spring, so that the adults are not in good condition until spa",:ning seasons; sq the summer is well advanced. In South Africa this point has never the~ fish came from been stressed, as, owing to the milder climate, the rainbows spawn i on an average only a month later than the brown trout. Dr. E. B. Wor!hington (Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside, England) sur;eyed this matter in detail in the " Salmon and Trout Magazine", Attempts to intt Nos. 100 and 101, 1941. He concluded that the correct scientific made in the eighteed name for the species is Salmo gairdnerii, Richardson, of which there In 1896; 15.000 salrU j .., 11 available every are subspecies, varieties or races of doubtful distinction (including the certain amount true sea-going "steelhead"), and that it was not possible to give country was in structural characters by which one could be distinguished from imatisation and another. Aiter about 1890, the various importations of rainbows had V2, MS. reports] become inextricably mixed at British trout farms, and are believed ~inbow trout ova to have included stock obtained from European continental hatcheries a condition, but which had been selected purely for quick growing to "portion size" ~se imported ova for the commercial market and probably of migratory origin. These [taken wild from mixed strains of rainbows were generally referred to as irideus. Since ~ during October 1931, alleged pure ...ihasta rainbow trout had been imported to Britain t, and there was from American hatcheries; this name having been given to a race of ~ in 1920 Chaplin rainbows from the McCloud river near Mount Shasta, which was !lets by fishermen said to be both non-migratory and autumn-spawning. Dr. Paul R. r coast, but the Needham, an authority on rainbows in their natural homes, had cast ruch reports had doubt on the latter claim, however, and believed that the autumn­ rggested that the spawning habit had been largely produced by careful selection in ~ undertaken, and American breeding establishments. for the return of· In 1938, the Frontier Acc1imatisation Society, Kingwilliamstown, I, he thought that imported some ova from a trout farm in England, and a small lot of tout in fresh and shasta rainbow ova was included. A few fish, hatched from these rS., Feb., '21.] eggs, grew rapidly at the Pirie Hatchery; but by the winter of 1?39 t Curator with a only one hen and five cocks had survived. The solitary hen produced ions for the post about 800 eggs in July, 1939, which were fertilised with the milt of lS from January, one of the shasta cocks. In the winter of 1940 there was no further ~is officer selected breeding from a pair from imported eggs, but 324 yearlings were the low fertility growing-out. By June, 1941, the Pirie Hatchery' had 65 hens and II'hich had been a 45 cocks surviving from the 800 eggs of July, 1939; and these two­ :own trout were year-old shastas were in breeding condition, and a fair quantity of n were published eggs resulted. Thus, this new strain of rainbows was descended from which Hey was a solitary pair of fish from the imported eggs. (Note: The fish from ly the University imported ova had the advantage of two warm seasons within 18 Curator of. the months, and were virtually two-year-olds when they spawned in the ached pensionable 1939 winter.) [Reports of Inland Fisheries Officer, 1941 and 1942.] Some shasta ova were sent from the Pirie Hatchery to the lbow trout were Jonkershoek Hatchery in July, 1941, and about 700 fry were hatched. there have been In January, 1943, when their pond was drawn; 112 shastas were these fish. They counted, measuring from 6 to 12 inches long; and they were marked lut the eggs sent by amputating the adipose fin, as there was no obvious. difference to In Britain, the distinguish them from the local stock of S.g. irideus. These shasta ~ assumption that rainbows ripened for spawning as two-year-olds in the 1943 winter. British sea trout but it happened that there were only 15 females in the whole lot, and sed waters. This these yielded about 10,000 eggs which hatched well. It was notable in Sout~ Africa, that they spawned several weeks earlier than the ordinary rainbows. rivers. Another and at the same time as the brown trout. that it does not This single characteristic has persisted in the 1944 and 1945 d condition until • spawning seasons; so that it would seem, at least, that the claim that point has never these fish came from an early-spawning strain is correct. rainbows spawn :rout. Dr. E. B. ATLANTIC SALMON. tlleside, England) 'rout Magazine ", Attempts to introduce salmon to the Cape of Good Hope were correct scientific made in the eighteen-nineties with some success· in the initial stages. I, of which there In 1896; 15,000 salmon ova were imported from Scotland and about 12

, 5,000 fry were hatched from these at the Jonkershoek Hatchery. injurious and e' Scott reported that by the end of that year "they were nearing the were ruining wa smolt stage" (i.e., when the young salmon become silvery prior to banks and by d l

carp, so that su .~. :young salmon were washed down into the Eerste river ", and had been seen in the river on several occasions. A further consignment of The ill effects 0 :salmon ova was imported in 1897, and Scott reported that two-thirds not be exaggerc bad hatched out. [G.41-'97 ana G.S3-'98.] spawning groun authorities who At the end of 1898, Scott said that the young salmon hatched the United State from the ova imported in April, 1897, had done well. Their growth in ·c extirpation. It this climate must certainly have been rapid, as he recorded that about waters of New five thousand "six to nine inches long and beginning to put on the reported that tht • smolt scales previous to going to the sea about November" were results of the mt placed in the Dwars river, a tributary of the long Berg river which ness of the watt goes to the Atlantic in St. Helena Bay, in September, 1898. He these facts, it w

remarked that they might return to the Berg river from the sea lived up to the r ~ "ii "about JunG 05 July, 1899 ", but there is no record of any such and which, prec occurrence. [G.S2-'99.] into American VI A third attempt was made in February, 1906, when a box of as a warning. salmon eggs arrived nearly all in bad condition. Three hundred fry. This warnil1 hatc1;led, but only tllree parr survived, and these were not seen after was noted that " being turned out into a pond at the Hatchery. [G.S1-'06.] tion of carp hen

t Th~ Frontier Acclimatisation Society also made an attempt to see how matters introduce Atlantic. salmon to the Eastern Province, and it is recorded be destroyed." that 'eight thousand young salmon were released in a tributary of the critical and wise

Keiskama river in 1898. As in the case of the Western Province too late to be USI ~xperiments, nothing more was reported about these salmon. carp and their pI The experiments indicated that imported salmon eggs can be lying significanct expected to yield a fair number of fry (and the proportion might be clear waters, dot very much greater under modern conditions of transport), and that regrettable fact t the young salmon may be grown to the migratory stage in this repeated in the ,

dimate after about 12 months' sojourn in hatchery ponds. But the It is highly ,:~ number of smolts released in each case was really too small to justify at a much earli, 1 1: ", these experiments being pronounced decisive, as the percentage of protracted yoyagl salmon surviving the hazards of the sea to make a return migration record is that for to fresh water must be small, even under favourable conditions in their tench and perch .. native region~. year by Dr. Gil There have been no recent attempts to acclimatise migratory large pond for salmonids, and there are many reasons for believing that the waters stated that carp of Southern Africa would be unsuitable. not seen to spaw 1899 from only . spawning and thl ! CARP. belonging to the

carp from the H .~ It is an unfortunate fact that a great deal of energy was devoted reared for breed: to the production of carp during the first thirty years of the existence pd bred freely: of the Jonkershoek Hatchery. . carp", and advisl "1 A very grave warning about the danger of introducing carp was fish. [0 fficial "

.~~ , sent out from Canada in 1897. [Agric. Dept. Min. A/988 26.7.98 in In 1903, Sc~ n't:vrds.] It stated that the carp introduced from Europe into of 1896 had inc American waters had proved to be voracious and omnivorous, living out another doze upon the food of better fish and propagating so fast that they were 13

.. 4,-- Jonkershoek Hatchery. injurious and even destructive to the higher kinds. Moreover, they 'they were nearing the were ruining waters by destroying vegetation, rooting up the marginal ecome silvery 1l"rior to banks and by disturbing the bottom. Ponds and waters which were 1897 stated that heavy clear and exhibited a hard bottom had become discoloured and turbid 5, and "a number of' and the bottom soft and tenacious by the grubbing actions of the I:te river ", and had been carp, so that such ponds had been changed into disgusting puddres. rrurther consignment of The ill effects of carp upon other specially high grades of fish could 1reported that two-thirds not be exaggerated, as carp are destructive spawn eaters and no , spawning ground is safe from their attacks. In some cases the authorities who at first took an active part in introducing carp into e young salmon hatched the United States were,' by 1897, adopting radical measures for their he well. Their growth in It ~ extirpation. had been declared illegal to introduce carp into the he recorded that about waters of New Jersey, and the Fish Commission of that State :beginning to put on the reported that their introduction had been attended by nothing but evil ~bout November" were results of the most aggravating kind, as they had destroyed the clear­ ~ long Berg river which ness of the waters and consumed the spawn of valuable fish. From p September, 1898. He these facts, it was obviolls that in its new habitats, the carp had not ferg river from the sea lived up to the reputation it· still enjoyed on the continent of Europe, :no record of any such and which, preceding it across the Atlantic, led to its introduction into Ame~ican waters, and it was to be hoped that they would serve ~, 1906,'when a box of as a warmng. tion. Three hundred fry. This warning was received in Cape Town in July, 1898, and it bese were not seen after was noted that" it is well worth keeping this in view in the acc1imatisa­ f. [G.51-'06.J tion of carp here-the distribution of the carp can be limited till we ~so made an attempt to see how matters go-our vleis and ponds. have few vafuable fish to )vince, and it is recorded be destroyed." Looking back from thi~ distance,. it is easy to be .sed in a tributary of the critical and wise after the event. The warning w?-s received just If the Western Province too late to be llsed as an argument against the official introduction of )ut these salmon. carp and their propagation at the Jonkerhoek Hatchery; and its under­ :ed salmon eggs can be lying significance, viz., the appalling damage which carp can do in the proportion might be clear waters, does not seem to have been appreciated. It is a very ; of transport), and that regrettable fact that all the damage described from America has been migratory stage in this repeated in the waters of South Africa. hatchery ponds. But the It is highly probable that carp were pre·sen'i in the Cape Colony ·eally too small to justify at a much earlier period, as they are hardy enough to withstand· re, as the percentage of protracted voyages and inferior water conditions; but the first official make a return migration record is that for the year 1896, which states ·that " a number of carp,' ,urable conditions in their tench and perch" had been brought out from England during that year by Dr. Gilchrist for the Jonkersnoek Hatchery. In 1897 "a to acclimatise migratory large pond for coarse fish" was constructed, and in 1898 it was believing that the waters stated that carp were "still doing well and attaining good size, but not seen to spawn yet." The first crop of carp fry was obtained in 1899 from only one female carp, and in 1900 there was a further spawning and the despatch of 16 yearling carp to De Aar for a dam belonging to the Hon. Dr. Thos. Smartt, apparently the first issue of carp from the Hatchery. In 1901, "Colonial bred" carp were being al of energy was devoted reared for breeding stock, 'and in 1902 Scott reported that the carp. ty years of the existence had bred freely and that the kind he had were" common or leather carp", and advised the importation of " King Carp" as' bp.ing a better Repoy,~s, of introducing carp was fish. [Official" G 11 1897-1903.J t. Min. A/988 26.7.98 in In 1903, Scott reported that the carp from the first importation Iced from Europe into of 1896 had increased considerably, and also that he had brought s and omnivorous, living out another dozen from England on his return from furlough that .g' ~o fast that they were E 14

year. Carp were sent from the Hatchery to the Transvaal in 1904, as well as being distributed in the Cape; but deliveries were small, although numerous orders were on hand. Dr. Gilchrist added a note to his The early atter annual report for 1906 that "the demand for carp could not be met endeavour in 1903 ites as roach, rudd with the present facilities at Jonkershoek." [Official (( G n Reports, 1904-1907.J are valued for the more by sentiment When Mr. F. G. Chaplin took over in December, 1907, he found that the Rand Pis( himself faced with this demand, and distributed 420 carp fingerlings Esox lucius, caused in 1908 and COflstructed five new ponds for pairs of breeding carp. the press in the Tra !li!.;i­ He was obviously unhappy about the policy of spreading carp over the i 1931, when a consi country, and he recommended tench as an alternative; but the demand the mail steamer, for carp continued to be widespread, and tench were not yet available, Town. [Letters in so in 1910 he had to breed and distribute more carp than ever before' e J~' [G.31 Report, 1909, and'C.P.2, 1912.J . l' 1\;1 , ;~ In 1911, with tench established at the Hatchery, Chaplin's warn­ ing about the danger of carp escaping from farm dams into trout

rivers was printed in the official annual report. Similar alarms were It was recorde.

~ Iii sounded in the rejJorts for 1912 and 1913, with the additional comment importation of fin!

that carp were liiibl~ to overstock dams to the detriment of the water. and Mr. Chaplin r ~~"

;i In spite of these warnings, the public continued to demand carp, and Jonkershoek Hatch I;~ \;'j small numbers were sent away annually until 1921, when Chaplin In 1900, an at deplored the invasion of trout streams in East Griqualand by these Solway Fisheries, : destructive fish. In tJtat year only 60 carp fingerlings had been during the voyage issued, as against about SOD tench fingerlings. Soon after that, he and Scott realised was authorised to destroy the carp at the Hatchery. [C.P.9, 1912, and spring-spawning fis A.120jCj23.J , under SO degrees ] TENCH. stated), but withou A consignmenl Some tench were brought from England in 1896 by Dr. Gilchrist, of the Rand Pisc. but apparently they did not survive, arid no further reference was survivors from a made to them in reports. Scott did not include tench in the list of ; hoek Hatchery. In "coarse fish" he tried to bring back with him in 1903. well, but had not Fifty tench were imported in 1910, and a further consignment doubtful if he wot of 24 two-year-old tench arrived early in 1911 sent by Mr. F. G;, waters, and during Richmond, of the Surrey Trout Farm, England. It was noted that the Perch are rather \

water was changed only once during the voyage. The tench spawned of eggs, left ungu, at the Hatchery in November, 1911. The breeding pond was emptied by numerous ell€~l on October 21st, 1912, and about SOD tench fingerlings were found- difficult to keep Q e the first to be bred in South Africa-and distribution was commenced. are very shy fish • Tench were sent away in increasing numbers, and in 1921 they had to deter them fro: entirely taken the place of the suppressed carp at the Hatchery. fish had matured t It cannot be said that tench have ever achieved much popularity, 1926 were sufficier

although there have been a few instances where they have done tion. In Septembe remarkably well in dams and grown to large size. Before the in waters regard~ introduction of bluegills, tench were recommended as providers of ascertained.

forage-fish for largemouth bass in certain types of waters, and they Perch have gi'

- ~ served this role with considerable success in the Paarde Vlei lake but they have bee:

near Somerset West. Subsequent observations have indicated that bass. The firm ~

tench cannot be entirely absolved from blame for the stirring~up of Mre. .It has been the bottom silt, but they do not do this to the same extent as carp. cut into boneless ~ Tench are lovers of weedy waters, and as one of their favourite A few perch.

foods. is the freshwater snail, they may serve a useful purpose in 111 1928, before l~ controlling these vectors of fluke diseases such as Bilharzia. I ...... 15

ransvaal in 19Q11r, as OTHER (( COARSE FISH". were small, although Scott'~" dded a note to his The early attempts, beginning in the eighteen-sixties, and ~tp could not be met endeavour in 1903 to import such English bottom-fishermen's favour­ ricial « G" Reports, ites as roach, rudd and dace, were unavailing. N one of these fish , are valued for the table, and the attempts must have been inspired [nber, 1907, he found more by sentiment than anything else. A proposal made in 1929 that the Rand Piscatorial Association should import European: pike, t 420 carp fingerlings Esox lucius, caused some rather heated discussions at meetings and in irs o.f breeding carp. the press in the Transvaal. An attempt was actually made in December, ireadmg carp over the 1931, when a consignment of 24 pike Vias sent in two containers by ftive ; but the demand the mail steamer, but all the fish died during the voyage to Cape rere not yet available, Town. [Letters in lonkershoek records.] ~rp than ever before.

lery; Chaplin's warn­ EUROPEAN PERCH. arm dams into trout i Similar alarms were It was recorded that only one perch survived from Dr. Gilchrist's .e additional comment importation of fingerlillgs in 1896. Scott reported it alive. in 1899,1 triment of the water. and Mr. Chaplin recalls that there was a large solitary perch at the to demand carp, and Jonkershoek Hatchery when he took over in 1907. 1921, when Chaplin In 1900, an attempt was made to import perch spawn from the Griqualand by these Solway Fisheries, Scotland, by keeping the eggs at a low t~mperature fingerlings had been .during the voyage to delay hatching; but all were dead on arrival, Soon after that, he and Scott realised that it had been a mistaken idea, as." perch are a y. [C.P.9, 1912, and spring-spawning fish, and ova should never be placed in a temperature under 50 degrees Fahr." He tried again in 1901 (the method is not stated), but without success. consign~ent l896 by Dr. Gilchrist, A of perch sent from England in 1914 to the order of the Rand Piscatorial Association died on the voyage; but some rrther reference was .ta~n tench in the list of , survivors from a shipment sent in 1915 were to the Jonkers­ in 1903. hoek Hatchery. In 1916, Chaplin reported that these fish had grown well, but had not bred. Indeed, for the next ten years it was very further consignment doubtful if he would succeed in acclimatising perch to South African sent by Mr. F. G;, waters, and during that time they were a consfant source of anxiety. It was noted that the Perch are rather uncertain breeders in this climate, and their bands , The tench spawned of eggs, left unguarded by the parent fish,' are subject to destruction ng pond was emptied by numerous em~mies, such as freshwater crabs, which are very erlings were found­ difficult to keep out of any ponds. The Curator found that perch Ition was commenced. are very shy fish at breeding times, and any disturbances were liable ,nd in 1921 they had to deter them from spawning. For seven years after the imported at the Hatchery., fish had matured there was little increase in the stock, and not until ved much popularity, 1926 were sufficient fingerlings on hand to justify a general distribu­ Lere they have done tion. In September, 1927, the Curator was authorised to place perch ~e size. ,Before the in waters regarded as suitable, in .prder that their habits might be Lded as providers of ascertained. of waters, and they Perch have given fairly good results in some waters at the Cape, he Paarde Vlei lake but they have been rather eclipsed by the success of the largemouth have indicated that bass. The firm white flesh of the European perch is very delicate or the stirring:up of fare..It has been well compared with that of the sole,' and can be same extent as carp. cut into boneless fillets. Ie of their favourite a 'useful purpose in A few perch were put into the PaardeVlei lake, Somerset West, as Bilharzia. -in 1928, before .largemouth bass were available. At that time this 16

lake teemed with indigenous "Cape kurpers" (Sandelia capensis) , reported that sever

The perch have shown a pronounced tendency to shoal, or at least to large waters which v feed together in .ce~ain areas of the lake. A seine-net test by the lake, 50 in Brandvle -I!• -:1\ Hatchery staff at one such spot produced a haul of thirty fine perch Groen Vlei lake, Kn'

;,' bass for anglers be ~i~ alone, to the exclusion of the bass, tench and bluegills taken in other ;!,1 ' places. Since the establishment of the bluegills in Paarde Vlei lake breeding of the large in 1940, the perch, as well as the largemouth bass, have shown a and November, 193: marked improvement in' condition. There has been no case recorded Vlei lake in January,

in South Africa where small perch have been present in anything in size from 8 ouncei like excessiv'e numbers, as in Lake Windermere and other waters in were hundreds of b~ Britain. ,[0fficial reports and manuscripts.J pounds and larger, a October/November, . LARGEMOUTH BASS. bass had been only ; ii 1930. This was bor 111 Mr. S. A. Hey, in his Fisheries Survey Report, Inland Waters, samples were taken f H' 11" 1926 (Dept. of Mines and Industries, Fisheries Survey Committee), largemouth bass in ( mentioned the possibility of the introduction of American Black the fame of the neVi Bass to South Africa; and in a third report of the series in 1928 he great demand for fir discussed the prospects of importing them direct from the United Africa. States. It was found, however, that the Surrey Trout Farm, Hasle­ The last of the ( mere, England, could obtain supplies of largemouth bass from a in February, 1929, I breeder in Holland; and the Director, Mr. D. F. Leney, informed the 4th, 1940. It was a j Curator of the Jonkershoek Hatchery that he could arrange to have small size in its four a supply of 2t-inch fingerlings by November, 1927, but advised that of normal growth in someone experienced in fish transport should tare for them on the life as an exhibit in voyage. The Rand Piscatorial Association, Johannesburg, decided season. A female b

that they would undertake the importation of a consignment of the South African ~ largemouth bass from this source, and the Curator was authorised Worcester; it could to take charge of any fish which the Association was successful in was probably less, i.e landing at Cape Town, in order that they might recover from the effects of the long sea voyage at Jonkershoek. Mr. R. J. Neville, the Hon. Secretary of. the Association, went to Engla.nd at the end . 'Of 1927; and he obtamed 49 largemouth bass fingerlings from the Surrey Trout Farm (bred in Holland during the European summer 11r. Lionel A. I of 1927). He gave his charges unceasing care during the voyage, obtain some smalln and lost only four fish en route; and the 45 survivors were handed maatschappij at Am! over to Mr. Chaplin on February 20th, 1928. [Letters in I.H. records, Society had only a f 7.12.26:"and A.120/C/31, 21.11.27.J His intention had be Some of these imported bass had grown to 9 or 10 inches in from a visit to Eng: length by October, 1928, but they did not breed at that stage. Chaplin they should be put iQ, 17

;" (Sandelia capensis). reported that several were about 12 inches long in July, 1929, and that he was preparing a breeding pond for them, as he hoped that they and it is quit~robable IS there was no sign of would spawn in the coming summer. On October 10th, 1929, he Mras lugh one perch was 16 able to wire to the Rand Piscatorial Association: "Black bass have :>t until the largemouth spawned." The Association had askee! the Cape Provincial Administra­ n 1933, that the perch tion, soon after the arrival of the bass in February, 1928, to allow mtime, those introduced the Curator to rear the fish to breeding size, with an agreement that is water; one weighing any resultant fry should be equally divided between the Administration 1934, and several others .and the Association, and this had been authorised. This arrangement was continued for five breeding seasons, and numbers of fingerlings ~rch are rare in Britain, were railed to the order of the Association. [Harrison, Investigational oz. taken in Norfolk in reports, 1934 and 1936: Div. of Fish: Dept. Comm. and Ind. G.P. Ie last ten years a fair Pret. A.120/C/31, 9.3.1928; A.120/C/46, 4.5.1935.] . >n by angling, and small ir number has been very A few small batches of bass fingerlings were placed in Cape 10uth bass in this lake. waters in 1930, and the results were really astonishing. Several y to shoal, or at least to large waters which were stocked in this way (e.g., 21 in Paarde Vlei A seine-net test by the lake, 50 in Brandvlei lake, 30 in Oukloof dam and, later, only 15 in laul of thirty fine perch Groen Vlei lake, Knysna) were producing large numbers of excellent I bluegills taken in other bass for anglers before three years had elapsed. The first wild­ ills in Paarde Vlei lake breeding of the largemouth bass in Cape waters occurred in October Ith bass, have shown a .and November, 1931. Bass fishing was commenced in the Paarde s been no case recorded Ylei. lake in January, 1933, and a number of fish were caught ranging ~en present in anything 1ll size from 8 ounces to 3 pounds. It Soon became evidept that there ere and other waters in were hundreds of bass in the lake in 1933 which weighed Ii to 2 pounds and larger, and that these fish had been bred in the lake in October/November, 1931, and not in 1930, because the 21 original bass had ?een only 3 to 4 inches long when released on July 30th, 1930. Thls was borne out by scale-reading studies in. 1933, when Report, Inland Waters, samples were taken from 186 caught by angling only. The growth of ies Survey Committee), largemouth bass in other Cape waters was equally remarkable; and III of American Black the fame of the new fish soon spread far and wide, resulting in a )f the series in 1928 he great demand for fingerlings for stocking waters all over Southern lirect from the United Africa. ey Trout Farm, Hasle­ The last of the original largemouth bass imported by Mr. Neville :gemouth bass from a in February, 1929, died at the Jonkershoek' Hatchery on October F. Leney, informed the 4th, 1940. It was a female weighing 5 lb. 6 oz., but its comparatively could arrange to have small size in its fourteenth year should not be taken as an indication 1927, but advised that of normal growth in this climate, for the fish had spent most of its tare for them on the life as an exhibit in a very small pond, except during the breeding Johannesburg, decided seaso? A fe~ale bass weighing 7. lb. was secured for mounting in of a consignment of the South Afncan Museum, also m 1940, from the Brandvlei lake :urator was authorised Worcester; it coul~ not have been more than eleven years old, but tion was successful in was probably less, 1.e., a fish from the first wild-breeding of 1931. ight recover from the k. Mr. R. J. Neville, to England at the end SMALL1I10UTH BASS. , fingerlings from 'the the European summer Mr. Lionel A. Day, Inland Fisheries Officer of Natal, tried to re during the voyage, obtain some smallmouth bass from the Nederlandsche Heide­ ;urvivors were handed ma'!:tschappij at Arnhem, Holland, in July, 1930, but found that the ~etters in I.H. records, S~C1~ty ha~ only a few for a.quarium exhibits and none for export. Hls mten~l?n had been to bnn~ out some fingerlings on his return to 9 or 10 inches in from a VlSlt to England, and 1t had been previously arranged that at that stage. Chaplin they should be put in Mr. Chaplin's care at the Jonkershoek Hatchery. 18

The Rand Piscatorial Association also tried to obtain some small­ found impossible, tl

mouth bass from England in 1933 without success. [J.H. Records, lifted on to the brid behind th~ forecastl A.120/C/46, July, 1930.J ·' difficult in bad wea In July, 1934, Mr. Lionel A. Day visited the Lewistown Hatchery I I by sea water. The t of the State of Maryland, U.S.A, where he established a contact as 83 degrees Fahr. I with Mr. A. M. Powell, Superintendent of Hatcheries, which was to 29 bass out of the lead to that gentleman's generous help in the improvement of inland fed during the voyal fisheries in South Africa. Mr. Powell was very enthusiastic about l the merits of the smallmouth bass, and offered to provide some for All the survivo shipment to Natal. The difficulty of arranging transport stood in the October 22nd, 1937 way for some years. [In. Fish Rept., 1933/34, Natal.J started to feed imm was the first occasio In 1935, the Cape Piscatorial Society, Cape Town, made contact direct from Americ: with Mr. Albert M. Vida, Chief Radio Officer of the m.V. "City of long when received II' New York", which at that time made a 21-day run from New York Ii, 1937, in Maryland, , (I" to Cape Town, and also made calls at Baltimore, Md. Mr. Vida was until they are three

I' associated with the New York Zoological Society, and collected

.~ Hatchery and in an

consignments of ~ve.animals for the Bronx Zoo and fishes for the ~' survivors were giver New York Aquarium. He undertook to try to obtain some smallmouth and responded in a bass on an exchange basis from that Aquarium; and accordingly, with inches long by the iii; the co-operation of the Curator of the Jonkershoek Hatchery and the Cape winter. It wal I! Director of Marine Fisheries, Dr. Cecil von Bonde, the Cape Pisca­ 12 months, provide 'ii! Iii, torial Society put a large can containing small marine fishes (with Southern Hemisphel canned Cape .crawfish for food) aboard the" City of New York" realised, and the im

on September 21st, 1935. Only a few small blennies reached New ~ ': when they were only ill York! alive, and for various reasons nothing came f r6m this simple third week of Sept plan, althQugh negotiations were continued. and a drop in wate In November, 1936, an arrangement was made between the spawnings early in ! Natal Provincial Administration and the Cape Piscatorial Society only about a dozen (which held in trust funds accumulated since the days of Mr. Piscatorial Society. J Lachlan MacLean's activities in fish acclimatisation) for co-operation Thus, in little in the importation of smallmouth bass and other fish from the State J onkershoek Hatchel of Maryland Conservation Department. Dr. von Bonde co-ordinated mouth bass fingerlin

the negotiations through the Department of Commerce and Industries the despatch of sevel an~ the Legation of the Union of South Africa, Washington. The Hatchery; over 200 American-South Africa Line, Inc., kindly allowed the shipments of loss. About 500 fin live fish to be brought by Mr. Vida as courtesy cargo. But on Mr. small lots were seh1 Powell, who went to vast trouble to provide suitable fish and equip­ burg, and to the Sv ment and long-distance road transport to New York docks, and on have produced much Mr. Vida, who cared for' the fish on the voyages often under arduous hoek Hatchery has ' conditions, fell the main burden of the importing work. in Southern Africa. A trial shipment of 60 smallmouth bass was sent in galvanised 1939.J iron shipping cans on February 1st, 1937, but all the fish died during As the smallmc the first five days of the voyage from New York. The cans had been in clear rivers whit

placed on the boat-deck in very cold weather. largemouth bass, pal . ~ It became obvious that more elaborate methods would have to be under such conditior used. By-M'I'rangement wit When Dr. von Bonde visited the Lewistown Hatchery in July, the Cape Provincial

1937, he found that Mr. Powell had prepared six wooden shipping Berg river, which tanks, each 36 inches by 17 inches deep, to be served by two diaphragm Three hundred fin~ air pun1ps, for the October, 1937, voyage of the "City of New released there at the

York". Mr. Powell made the 2oo-mile road journey to New York were from ten to tv with this heavy equipment and cans of spare water, and as it was They bred in the ~~i 19

to obtain som...small­ found impossible to have the tanks (weighing 500 pounds each) ,uccess. [I.H. Records, Ii £ted on to the bridge-deck, they had to'be placed on the hatch-cover behind the forecastle. In that position, the tending of the fish ~as difficult in bad weather, and one pump motor was put ?ut of act~olll he Lewistown Hatchery by sea water. The temperature. of the'water i.n the tanks ro?e as h~gh eestablished a contact as 83 degrees Fahr. in the tropICs, but Mr. VIda succeeded m landmg atcheries, which was to 29 bass out of the 55 put on board. As planned, the fish were not improvement of inland • fed during the voyage. [Circular No. 28 of Cape Piscatorial Society.] very enthusiastic about ~d to provide some for All the survivors were taken to the Jonkershoek Hatchery on ~ transport stood in the October 22nd, 1937, and placed in a quarantine furrow, and they ~, Natal.] started to feed immediately upon small earthworms and fish fry. It was the first occasion on record where game 'fish had been transported pe Town, made contact direct from America to South Africa. The fish were 3 to 4 inches ~ of the m.v. "City of long when received at Jonkershoek, and had been bred during May, ly run from New York 1937, in Maryland, where smallmouth bass are not expected ~o mature Ire,' Md. Mr. Vida was until they are three years old. There was some early mortahty at the ,Society, and collected Hatchery and in an abortive attempt to send six to Natal; but the wo and fishes for the survivors were given all the advantages which the Hatchery possessed, obtain some smallmouth and responded in a very satisfactory manner, and were from 7 to 10 I; and accordingly, with inches long by the end of May, 1938, i.e.; at t~e beginnin~', of. t~e moek Hatchery and the Cape winter. It was hoped that their two' growmg seasons wlthm Bonde, the Cape Pisca­ 12 months, provided by transportation from the Nor-them to the lil marine fishes (with Southern Hemisphere, would induce precocious breediqg. This was ." City of New York" realised, and the imported smallmouth bass spawned at J~nker.shoek i blennies reached New when they were only 17 months old. Some eggs were- deposIted m the came fr6m this simple third week of September, 1938; but it was too early that season, and a drop in water temperature caused mortality; btit subsequent 'as made between the spawnings early in October were very fruitful, although there were lpe Piscatorial Society only about a dozen bass of both sexes. [Circular No. 32 of Cape nce the days of Mr. Piscatorial Society.] ation) for co-operation Thus, in little more than two years a.ter~ the importation the ier fish from the State Jonkershoek Hatchery was able to commence the distribut~on of small- . 'On Bonde co-ordinated mouth bass fingerlings. The Cape's debt to Natal was dIscharged by Immerce and Industries the despatch of several lots of fingerlings, totalling 258, to the Howick rica, Washington. The Hatchery; over 200 going by air during the hot weather without )wed the shipments of loss. About sao fingerlings were planted out in Cape waters, and ~sy cargo. But on Mr. small lots were sent to the Rand Piscatorial Association, Johannes­ iuitable fish and equip­ burg, and to the Swaziland Hatchery. Subsequent 'breeding seasons v York docks, and on have produced much larger numbers of fingerlings, and the J onkers­ es often under arduous hoek Hatchery has been the source of supply for numerous waters ing work. in Southern Africa. [Reports of Inland Fisheries Officer, 1938 and was sent in galvanised 1939.] all the fish died during As the smallmouth bass were imported primarily for planting rk. The cans had been in clear rivers which are too warm for trout and too rapid for largemouth bass, particular attention has been given to their pro&"ress hods would have to be under such conditions, and so far they have fulfilled all expectations. By arrangement with the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, lwn Hatchery in July, the Cape Provincial Administration has used a section of the upper I six wooden shipping Berg river, which meets the above description, as a test water. rved by two diaphragm Three hundred fingerlings from the first breeding of 1938 were f the "City of New released there at the end of that year, and in twelve months several journey to New York were from ten to twelve inches long when taken out for inspection. 'water, and as it was They bred in the river on the test section towards the end of 1940, 20

and at low water early in 1941 hundreds of their "bannertail" found to be a female hi fingerlings could be seen. A satisfactory feature was that the small­ 'summer it had been on mouth bass withstood exceptionally high flood crests during the it was placed at J onke winters of 1940 and 1941, which caused the disappearance of large­ "The remaining three bit mouth bass from the test section of the river. Since then, the • Bluegills were tral smallmouth bass have bred in the same localities each season in 11. . Powell had made impr01 October and November; the spawning tending to be somewhat later of six shipping tanks 11 1 in the river than in the Hatchery ponds. From the nucleus 'planted by 24 inches deep, wit on the test section, the Berg river for many. miles, up and down t plant which included al stream, has been stocked; and many river-bred smallmouth reach and JI~ reg1,llator. Small bluegil ,•. exceed the ten-inch angling limit by their third summer, a rate of I' tank, and as before theJ I :,at· ..;, .• growth similar to that of trout in Cape waters. Very satisfactory h4d to travel on the for, ~ angling results were obtained in the 1943/1944 and 1944/1945 open contamination by sea w -'\i£ seasons, including the capture of several bass of over three pounds, reached Cape Town, an .' and all anglers expressed delight on discovering the high sporting Natal's fish were transfe II: and table qualities of tnese fish, which are living up to their America!1 and given a supply of liv :i~" . reputation as a game species. Durban on the next da

't

of~ se~eral Thirty-two survived qu I' The stocking other rivers in the Western Cape Pro­ ,; vince, notably part of the Breede river, has yielded similar excellent 'were only about 2t inc ::;i results; and the success of smallmouth bass in the large Steenbras December 29th, 1938. ' Reservoir (Cape Town's water supply), which has water of' the weeks time some had n peat-stained and acid type, also augurs well for the future of small­ in body and brightly colo mouth bass in numerous waters which have proved to be unsuitable a nest of eggs on Jam for trout. later; and several other BLUEGILL SUNFISH. female spawned, and gn March, 1939; many of tt which was bigger than tI The bluegill sunfish was highly recommended by American Hubbs considered that th authorities as the best species of its family for introduction to Sot\th months was very likely a Africa. It had a good reputation as a minor sporting fish and was in life-history of these t highly regarded for the table, and it had, moreover, become recognised fingerlings were available as the best secondary species for stocking in conjunction with large­ ing. The imported fish h mouth bass in waters used for economic fish production. Enquiries 1939, and a second, nor were instituted in 1935 about the ways and means· of bringing it to month when the water t this country, and there was considerable doubt about the sunfish the annual output of bi offered by dealers in Europe. Care had to be taken about the origin ,demands. of the stock to be impprted, as the North American sunfishes have a peculiar tendency towards hybridization, and some species are The imported bluegil considered to be very undesirable. The Cape-Natal co-operation was precociously like those at continued to include the bluegill sunfish and the spotted bass through Bluegills from the 1 the channels which had been established for the importation of to comparatively large sizi smallmouth bass. Mr. Powell readily responded to the request for from Swaziland late in additional fishes, and said that he would obtain pure bluegills from 'Cathcart, Cape P,rovinte; Mr. Fred Tresse1t, of Thurmont, Maryland, a commercial breeder. In other i,nstances, bluegi of repute; and added his word of warning: "In the event of your grew to a size of about : getting other species of sunfish in your country you can depend on By 1940, the demant hybrids." (Dr. Carl L. Hubbs, University of Michigan, subsequently -other pond fish at the }I identft'ied specimens bred at Jonkershoek Hatchery as full-blooded this sp.ecW; for farm da bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus.) Mr. Powell sent a consignment of No. 32 of Cape Piscatori bluegills by the" City of New York" in June, 1938, but dock trouble Officer, 1938 to 1940.]

caused a delay in getting the tanks put aboard at New York, and a ~

large proportion of the fish were dead even before they came under ;;

I ~ Mr. Vida's ~are, and only four bluegills were landed alive at Cape The Cape-Natal iII Town. They were small adult fish, and when one died in July it was November, 1939, by the _.,,,,"

21

of their "ba~ertail" found to be a female heavy with eggs. When shipped in the northern ture was that the small­ .'summer it had been on the point of spawning, and the water in wfich tood crests during the it was placed at J onkershoek was at the Cape winter temperature. disappearance of large­ The remaining three bluegills appeared to be male. river. Since then, the Bluegills were transported successfully in October, 1938. Mr. )calities each season in . Powell had made improvements in the equipment;which now consisted 19 to be somewhat later of six shipping tanks made of cypress wood, 30 inches by 30 inches rom the nucleus planted by 24 inches deep, with wooden hoods, served by a new aerating IlY. miles, up and down plant which included an· air-compressor, reserve tank and automatic :d smallmouth reach and regl,llatbr. Small bluegills bred in May, 1938, were sent, 20 in each lird summer, a rate of tank, and as before there was to be no feeding en route. The tanks lters. Very satisfactory had. to travel on the forward well-deck, and there was some loss from ~·and 1944/1945 open contamination by sea water in heavy weather. Seventy-two bluegills 5 of over three pounds, reached Cape Town, and half of these were taken to Jonkershoek. ~ring the high sporting Natal's fish were transferred to new water brought from the Hatchery ng up. to their Americap. and given a supply of live blood-worms, and Mr. Vida took them on to Durban on the next day, and 27 were received in good condition. the Western Cape Pro­ Thirty-two survived quarantine at the Jonkershoek Hatchery, but yielded similar excellent 'were only about 2i inches long when turned out into a pond on in the large Steenbras December 29th, 1938. The result was amazing, as in only three h.ich has water of the weeks time some had nearly doubled that length and become deep for the future of small­ in body and brightly coloured. A four-inch male was found guarding proved to be unsuitable a nest of eggs on January 24th, 1939, which hatched three days later; and several other males made nests in which more than one female spawned, and great shoals of fry resulted. 'By the end of March, 1939, many of the young bluegill~ were Ii to 2 ,inches long, which was bigger than their parents had been in October, 1938. Dr. Imended by American Hubbs considered that the maturing of bluegills at the age of 7 to 8 r introduction to SOl'.th months was very likely a record, but explainable by the unusual event!'!. , sporting fish and was in life-history of these transported fish. About a thousand bluegill )ver, become recognised fingerlings were available for distribution fror1I titis abnormal spawn~ conjunction with large- ing. The imported fish had reached the half-pound size by October, production. Enquiries 1939, and a second, normal, breeding season occurred late in that neans· of bringing it to month when the water had thoroughly warll1ed up, and since then )ubt about the sunfish the annual output of bluegills has been maintained to meet large •taken about the origin ·demands. merican sunfishes have and some species are The imported bluegills taken on to Natal also matured and bred Natal co-operation was precociously like those at Jonkershoek. ie spotted bass through Bluegills from the 1939 breedings at the Hatcheries soon grew Ir the importation of to comp.aratively large size when placed in open waters. One recorded led to the request for from Swaziland late in 1942 weighed 1 lb. 13 oz., and one from in pure bluegills from Cathcart, Cape ~rovince, taken in March, 1943, weighed 1 lb. 11 oz. a commercial breeder. In other ~nstances, bluegill fingerlings placed in well-fertilised ponds 'In the event of your grew to a size of about 1 lb. in twelve months. ry you can depend on By 1940, the demand for bluegill stock had exceeded that of all Michjgan, subsequently ·other pond fish at the Jonkershoek Hatchery, as the advantages of tchery as full-blooded this species for farm dams became more widely known. [Circular ;ent a consignment of No. 32 of Cape Piscatorial Society, and Reports of Inland Fisheries 1938, but dock trouble .Officer, 1938 to 1940.J : at New York, and a SPOTTED BASS. ~fore they came under J~. la,nded alive at Cape ". The Cape-N.atal importation programme was completed in ne died in July it was November, 1939, by the arrival of a consignment of spotted bass, 22

Micropterus punctulatus. By that time, the Jonkershoek Hatchery Natal an additiona ,had a good stock of the renowned northern smallmouth bass, M. survived a hot we dolomieu; but it had been considered that another species from the The '23 spottec warmer southern parts of the United States, the spotted bass, might a pond after the prove to be better suited to conditions in some rivers in South Africa.. became much tame It was therefore decided that our good friends in America be asked was never in doub to send some of these fish whilst the importation channel was still is an early breede organised. As the State of Maryland did not breed spotted bass, when only five to Mr. Powell obtained some from Dr. T. H. Langlois, Chief of the Jonkershoek .range, Bureau of Fish Management and Propagation of the State of Ohio,. of that month mal where they are indigenous in lowland streams subject to flood stages. their pond. It was The spotted bass were brought by road from Ohio to Lewistown, spotted bass were :Maryland, in preparation for shipment; and then, as on previous. intensive methods, occasions, Mr.· Powell brought them on a further 200-mile journey the seasons which to New York docks. The six shipping tanks and aerating equipment fry was made to t', had been returned to America after the bluegill shipment of 1938, and 1940, by rail, and a

this gear was used again for the spotted bass, about 20 being placed. starved for 84 hot l' ~; in each tank for the October, 1939, voyage of the "City of New and I.P.O. Reports York". But war conditions had arrived and the United States was

then neutral, and a large Stars and Stripes emblem was displayed on lvl0S{

,.','·I··I:\~ t..:i No. ~ hatch for rec~gnition from the air. This meant that the degree' In 1912, the ea lit:! of protection for the tanks and motors given by the forecastle deck­ for the special pUT) : J house on the previous peace-time voyages could not be afforded in this case; and the ,only place available was on No. 2 hatch cover at seems to have beel the b'ack of the forward well-deck exposed to the wash of the seas requirements of thl in rough weather. Departing from previous practice, Mr. Powell had Barbados enjoyed i provided a container of small live goldfish as food, and the bass took and this was attri them well for the first few days until the forage fish were killed by' Lebistes reticulatUol salt water. During the fifth and sixth days out, heavy seas damaged reproduction (and, both electric motors beyond repair and overturned two of the tanks, that these had bee so that 40 bass were lost, and the other four tanks were contaminated. good results. Whe For some days in'the tropics, Mr. Vida used a hand pump for hours, introduced into mal on end to provide aeration, as the temperature of the water stood overlooked that tht drops much below at about 84 deg. Fahr.; but on the twelfth day he managed to rig Up' a borrowed motor to drive the aerators for the rest of the voyage. States health a1,Jth

.Hatchery, and none were lost in quarantine. The fish allotted to­ authorised to unden

.~ Natal were not so fortunate. On arrival at Cape Town they were ordered from BarlY. transferred to fresh water brought from Jonkershoek and fed as the' ,ti~ of Johannesbul bluegills had been in 1938, and the HatcherY staff left the tanks in l September, 1912 (1 place aboard with aerators running. Shipping affairs were under a Those taken to Jc security silence, and entry into the dock area was very restricted; I summer, but had j but..'l' ... it was learnt afterwards that the vessel was delayed in dock, and "' winter and kept all that for one day the tanks were removed to the quay without aeration there was no electril whilst cargo was being worked out of No.2 hold, and 22 of the bass. aquariums". The died. Five survivors reached the Howick Hatchery; and to assist divided between thl 23

It Jonkershoek J.latc:hery Natal an additional four were railed from Stellerrbosch, but only one hI smallmouth bass, M. survived a hot weather journey of four days. ¥_ mother species from the The 23 spotted bass at the Jonkershoek Hatchery were placed III ~ the spotted bass, might a pond after the quarantine period and fed with live food; they Ie rivers in South Africa. became much tamer than the other species of bass, and their progress ltds in America be asked was never in doubt.• Dr. Langlois had recorded that the spotted bass frtation channel was still is an early breeder in Ohio, and he had known yearlings to breed inot breed spotted bass, when only five to six inches long. By September, 1940, those at i Langlois, Chief of the Jonkershoekranged from eight to ten inches long, and by the end tm of the State of Ohio,. of that month males were found guarding nests in the shallows of Is subject to flood stages. their pond. It was soon found that, of all the basses, the fry.of the rom Ohio to Lewistown,. spotted bass were the hardiest and the most adaptable to reanng by Id then, as on previous. intensive methods, and this has been the invariable experience during ~urther 200-mile journey the seasons which have followed. The transfer of 100 spotted bass fry was made to the Howick Hatchery, Natal, early in November, ~ and aerating equipment fill shipment of 1938, and 1940, by rail, and all but two survived the journey, although they were Ss, about 20 being placed starved for 84 hours. [Circular No. 34 of Cape Piscatorial Society, e of the "City of New and I.F.O. Reports, 1938 and 1940.J d the United States was· emblem was displayed on Jl,fOSQUITO FISH OR TOP-MINNOWS. his meant that the degree­ nby the forecastle deck­ In 1912, the earliest attempt to acclimatise small fish hom abroad :ould not be afforded in for the special purpose of controlling the aquatic larvae of'mosquitoes seems to have been made under a misunderstanding of the climatic pn No.2 hatch cover at to the wash of the seas requirements of those selected. It had been noted that the island of ~mosquitoes, practice, Mr. Powell had Barbados enjoyed immunity from diseases borne by some sfood, and the bass took and this was attributed to the presence'of small indigenous fish, orage fish were killed by Lebistes reticulatus, known as "millions" from their rapidity of out, heavy seas damaged reproduction (and, later, as "guppies" by tropical fish fanciers), and turned two of the tanks, that these had been transferred to other West Indian islands with tanks were contaminated. good results. When it was recommended that t:\sese fish should be 1 a hand pump for hours introduced into malarial and yellow fever areas, it seems to have been .ture of the water stood overlooked that they are liable to die off if the water temperature ay he managed to rig up· drops much below 60 degrees Fahr.; whereas since 1905 the United . the rest of the voyage. States health authorities had been distributing' much hardier species of top-minnows from the American mainland, particularly Gambusm ~o reach Cape Town, and affinis. In spite of a warning from the' Royal Zoological Society, I 4 to 6 inches long, and tinctly saline to the taste, arising from experiments in London, that "millions" perished in developed fungus, this England if not kept in warmed tanks, attempts were made to send them tually been benelicial to­ from Barbados to Australia, India, Burma and parts of Africa with no 40 of the original 120' success. [Rpt. No.1, 1913, c.P. Admn.] [). indication of the hardi­ Although it was unlikely that millions would be of any advantage aken to the Jonkershoek in the Cape Province, the Curator of the Jonkershoek Hatchery was le. The fish allotted to· authorised to undertake the experimental breeding of some which were : Cape Town they were ordered from Barbados by the South African Anti-Malarial Associa­ lkershoek and fed as the tion of Johannesburg. The consignment arrived in good condition in 'Y .staff left the tanks in September, 1912 (having been shipped to avoid the Cape winter). ng affairs were under a. Those taken to Jonkershoek throve in open-air ponds during the rea was very restricted; summer, but had to be taken into the Curator's house during the was delayed in dock, and' winter and kept alive by using improvised heating arrangements, as the quay without aeration there was no electric current and this was before the days of" tropical hold, and 22 of the bass. aquariums". The rest of the imported consignment, which was Hatchery; and to assist divided between the hatchery then existing at Potchefstroom in the .24

Tra~svaal and ponds at Pongola in Zululand, disappeared without a river fish of the c trace. The millions at Jonkershoek were kept in existence for two indifferent flesh. The winters with considerable difficulty, and some lots were sent away yellowfish of the Clam at the request of the Anti-Malarial Association, as they bred quite well capcnsis, hav..e only b( each summer. Some were tried in a warm spring area at Brandvlei, years, and it is a rath Worcester, without success. The cold of the 1915 winter killed off rivers draining from the Jonkershoek stock. Some had been sent to Durban, Natal, in species of Labeo consi May, 1914, and the Medical Officer of Health reported in January, and the beautiful stre

by any recognised body, but seems to have been imported along with ingly interesting subjec numerous other ~all aquarium fishes by private individuals or spp., and other estuaril acquired from members of the crews of vessels trading to South fresh waters near the African ports, a traffic which was uncontrolled up to the year 1944. 1938, showed that it v A stock was obtained in 1936 for the Jonkershoek Hatchery from Barbus andrewi, and fe:

Mr. J. C. Dendy, of Idas Valley, Stellenbosch, and they spread when these fish are ma rapidly in ;the weedy shanows of the ponds, and the winter climate this way from the B~ did not affect them. They proYed valuable as forage for bass and Jonkershoek Hatchery

trout, and consignments have been sent from the Hatchery to all daphnia basins; and in parts of So~th Africa for this purpose as well as for mosquito control. various stages of growl These plain-coloured top-minnows were identified from specimens observations on the dev bred at Jonkershoek as Gambusia affinis affinis by Dr. Carl L. Hubbs, connection with his "E who said that they occur in the Mississippi Valley and are distinct the 'South-western Cap' from Gambusia affinis holbrookii, which occur along the Atlantic XXXVI, Part 2, July] coast of the United States. A stock of the black-blotched and golden ,there are distinct possib sub-species holbrookii was also obtained for the Hatchery in 1944, either for the producti after it had been imported for aquarists and then found to be fully waters with indigenous s tolerant of out-of-doors conditions. Both forms have been widely The first indigenou distributed from America for mosquito control work, and like the ponds was a small cich millions, their eggs are hatched within the body-cavity of the female vicinity of Pretoria by and the fry born ready to feed. The female Gambusia rarely exceeds which was referred to a a length of 2t inches, and the males are smaller. This small fish is a "m mouth of tJ;1e parent afl INDIGENOUS FISH. the fry being harboured some time after. It ha During the last fifty years the main achievements of the Jonkers­ to the present time, but hoek Hatchery have been the acclimatisation and breeding of if it is more useful for non-indigenous fishes, and not much attention has been given to the been observed to becom culturing of native species. There were few, if any, indigenous species No.1, 1913.J in the southern Cape which seemed to merit attention, and pond space One large cichlid, wA very limited. The Eerste river flowing past the Hatchery grounds natalens») is indigenous

was devoid of any large indigenous fish, except a few eels entering of its distribution, it h. from False Bay, and the sam~ applied to the Laurens and Palmiet fish of the region and 11 rivers, within easy reach. The Berg and Breede river systems con­ species has been record

tained the witvis or baardman, Barbus andrewi, sometimes reaching from as far north as T a size of~~even pounds or more, but with the usual disadvantages of of East London. It occu 25 ld, disappeared without a river fish of the carp family embarrassing bones and rather )t in existence for two indifferent flesh. The merits of another member of the genus, the Ie lots were sent away yellowfish of the Clanwilliam Olifants river on the west coast, Barbus , as they bred qt1'tte well capcnsis, have only become appreciated outside its district in recen~ ?ring area at Brandvlei, years, and it is a rather dubious kind of fish for pond cultur~. T~e ~ 1915 winter killed off rivers' draining from the Karoo to the southern coast contamed a t to Durban, Natal, in species of Labeo considered to be almost worthless for any purpose; th reported in January, and the beautiful streams from the Drakensberg were virgin waters Botanical Gardens had awaiting the advent 0'£ trout. The Orange river system was too nter temperature of the remote to have much influence on Cape hatchery policy, and its species n, 55 degrees minimum, of Barbus had no better economic reputation than the local species. lieved that the millions The smaller indigenous fishes such as the western Cape "kurper", in Natal, but since then Sandelia capensis, and the eastern "rocky", S. bainsii, the slender, n Europe by aquarium scaleless mountain and vlei minnows, Galaxias, and several kinds of . cqloured. [l.R. Rpt., Barbus of minnow size, were of interest mainly as forage fish, and some attempts to breed them were not encouraging. Time and pond is, was not brought in space in the past have not permitted experiments with some exceed­ ~en imported along with ingly interesting subjects, such as the freshwater grey mullet, Mugil private individuals or spp., and other estuarine fishes which have taken to life in purely ~ssels trading to South fresh waters near the coast. One experiment made in November, ~d up to the year 1944. 1938, showed that it was possible to strip ripe eggs from witvis, ershoek Hatchery from Barbus andrewi, and fertilise them with the milt of the male, at times losch, and they spread when these fish are massed for spawning. A batch of eggs taken in and the winter climate this way from the Berg river was hatched in a trough at the as forage for bass and J onkershoek Hatchery and the fry reared on organism~ from the m the Hatchery to all daphnia basins; and in that case the witvis fry were preserved at as for mosquito control. various stages of growth and sent to Dr. K. H. Bamard to check ntified from specimens observations on the development of juveniles caught in the river, in Indigen~us Freshwater~ r by Dr. Carl L. Hubbs, connection with his "Revision of Fishes of Valley and are distinct the 'south-western Cape Region" (Annals of S.A. Museum, Vol. cur along the Atlantic XXXVI, Part 2, July 1943). This simple experiment indicated that ack-blotched and golden ,there are distinct possibilities for this class of work at the Hatchery, the Hatchery in 1944, either for the production of forage fish or for the restocking of "cas~ then found to be fully waters with indigenous species of Barbus in the of their depletion. Irms have been widely The first indigenous fish to become established in the Hatchery rol work, and like the ponds was a small cichlid, Haplochromis moff~ti, brought from the dy-cavity of the female vicinity of Pretoria by Dr. Gilchrist in 1911 for mosquito control, rambusia rarely exceeds which was referred to at that time by its synonym, Tilapia philander. er. This small fish is a "mouth breeder", the eggs being taken into the mouth of t~e parent after fertilisation for the incubation period and the fry being harboured therein until they commence to feed and for some time after. It has persisted at the Hatchery in a small way rements of the J onkers­ to the present time, but does not reproduce rapidly; and it is doubtful ion and breeding of if it is more useful for mosquito control than, say, goldfish, as it has has been given to the been observed to become very sluggish in winter. [Mar. BioI. Rpt. any, indigenous species No.1, 1913.J tention, aQd pond space One large cichlid, Tilapia mossambica (syn. T. vorax and T. t the Hatchery grounds natalensis) is indigenous to the Eastern Cape Province; but on account :pt a few eels entering of its distribution, it has received li~tle recognition as a freshwater ~ Lourens and Palmiet fish of the region and has been confused with estuarine forms. This ede river systems con­ species has been recorded from rivers flowing to the Indian Ocean :vi, sometimes reaching from as far north as Tanganyika down to the Chalumna river south usual disadvantages of of East London. It occurs far inland in the Transvaal in the Limpopo 26 series, but not in the Orange river system. In the eastern Cape it frequents the short coastal streams of the Native Territories and the Attempts we lower parts of the larger rivers above tidal influences, and is known .African cichlid; 1 as the" mud bream"; but it does not get far inland and was com­ .a pond fish in K pletely overlooked as a freshwater fish in earlier reports which were famous'" lake fis almost entirely confined to upland areas suitable for trout. In the which is highly va coastal streams, it has been recorded to reach a size of about three 'of the Union Cor and the South Af: poundS, and to be taken by anglers on both animal and vegetable " baits and occasionally on artificial lures. In the Transvaal it is better was brought qy : known to anglers, and one of its local names is the "largemouth at the end of 0 kurper ", and a mounted specimen in the Jonkershoek museum, from arrival and took Hartebeestepoort Dam, near Pretoria, weighed 3i lb. when caught. cause until only f to be an after-efl Some of these-fish were obtained from the Transvaal in 1936 Twenty bluegills; by a landowner at Malmesbury, Cape. He found that they multiplied ill effects from sir in small farm :dams, feeding largely on green algae, although they 'placed in a small could be caught on paste, worms or meat. The intestine of this months. attaining species suggests that it is largely a vegetarian, as that of one of nine they would breed inches long .call be extended to a length of five feet. A small stock May, 1943, all the was brought to the Jonkershoek Hatchery from the Malmesbury dams made to send SOl in January, 1940, and by the end of that year fingerlings were 1943, but on each numerous and were used to feed predatory fish. This species is also received alive. T a persistent mouthbreeder, and does not eject its charges when netted first attempt was

or transported; and it is exceedingly interesting to watch a shoal of been made, but it fry streaming back into the mouth of the female when disturbed. As withstand the Ca~ a pond 'fish, it will withstand very inferior water conditions and high practical use as pc tem.\?erature, and, those in some small ponds at Malmesbury were .to 1943.J found to be surviving in a few inches of hot, green alkaline water duribg a· summer drought. Its tolerance to cold water does not seem Further expe to be so high. In a test in a highly fertilised pond at the Athlone progress at the J( Disposal Works near Cape Town, some T. mossambica fingerlings "Kafue Bream ", brought from the Hatchery in winter, July, '1942, had grown to be in the native mar fish up to one pound in weight by August, 1943. The flesh of these Vaughan Jones, fish from dams is somewhat in'ferior to that of bass and bluegills, Another fish undl but they have a good reputation as a food fish in other parts of chromis thumberg South Africa in comparison with species of Barbus. predatory as a b Pretoria. Some small specimens of another indigenous cichlid, Tilapia spaarmanii, were sent to the Hatchery in December, 1941, by the Rand Piscatorial Association of Johannesburg. This is a smaller species A large nurr than the above, and its maximum length appears to be about nine were brought to inches. One of its local names is the "barred kurper", and it is a Far East and Eu handsome fish more suitable·for ornamental than economic purposes public found diffi, and largely carnivorous. It has a wide African distribution, and is very desirable occurs in the Orange river system. An interesting series of observa­ encouraged to kef tions was made by the Hatchery staff in the summer of 1944-45, when of mosquito larval it was found that T. spaannanii is not a true mouth breeder, although of fancy goldfish

it may take its eggs arid young into the mouth for transfer. Indi­ given for the pub .~

viduals were seen guarding objects to which eggs were adhering, as' fish, garden pond well as depressions containing eggs, and the parents were found and ~truction was a] photographed at the entrance of holes which were occupied by very sessed facilities f( young fry. Earlier observations had suggested that this species had rearing of the fr not developed the mouth-breeding habit to· the same extent as T. with the demand f}t()ssambica, as it was noted that shoals of very young swimming fry fish, the followin made no attempts to go to the parent's mouth when disturbed, and Veiltails, Orandos that both fish seemed to be shepherding them into the weed-beds. [I.P.O. Annual'R 27 In the eastern Cape it :ive Territories and the Attempts were made in 1942 and 1943 to introduce an East fluences, and is known African cichlid, Tilapia nigra. This species has given good results as .a pond fish in Kenya, and is said to be as good a table fish.as t~e r inland and Was corn­ Vlcto~la, ier reports whfaJ. were famous" lake fish" or "ngege" (T. esculenta) of Lake able for trout. In the which is highly valued on the Nairobi market. By the kind co-operatloV!.· ,of the Union Commissioner at Nairobi, the Kenya Game Department 1 a size of about three and the South African Air Force, a can containing 22 small fingerlings l animal and vegetable e Transvaal it is better was brought by relays from Nairobi to the Eersterivier air station es is the "largemouth ..at the end of October, 1942. The fish appeared to be healthy on arrival and took food, but they began to die off from no apparent :ershoek museum, from tho~ght 3i lb. when caught. cause until only five remained by November 11th. This was to be an after-effect of chilling at high altitudes during the fllght. the Transvaal in 1936 Twenty bluegills, which were sent to Nairobi in ~e~urn, suffered no md that they multiplied ill effects f rom similar air transport. The five survlvmg T. mgra were :n algae, although they placed in a small pond and made rapid growth during the summer The intestine of this months, attaining a length of about six inches, and it was hoped th~t as that of one of nine they would breeu; but with the first onset of the cold weather m ve feet. A small stock May, 1943, all the fish died in their pond. Two further attempts were :l the Malmesbury dams made to send some larger specimens by air in January and June, year fingerlings were 1943, but on each occasion there were delays in transit and none were sh. This species is also received alive. The number of T. nigra which survived from the its charges when netted first attempt was too small to justify a claim that a fair test had ng to watch a shoal of been made, but it seemed probable that these Kenya tilapia could no~ ale when disturbed. As withstand the Cape winter temperature well enough to maJ<;e them ot Iter conditions and high practical use as pond fish. [Reports of Inland Fisheries Off,icer, 1940 s at Malmesbury were to 1943.J >t, green alkaline water Further experiments with northern cichlid fishes. are now in lId water does not seem progress at the Jonkershoek Hatchery. A recent acquisition w~s the :d pond at the Athlone "Kafue Bream ", Tilap'ia kafuensis, Blgr., '9. valuable economlC fish mossambica fingerlings in the native market in Northern Rhodesia, kindly sent by Mr. T. 1942, had grown to be Vaughan Jones, Director of Game and Tsetse Control, Lusaka. 143. The flesh of these Another fish under observation is the "Canary Kurper", Serrano­ of bass and bluegills, chromis thumberqii, Cast., a medium-sized cichlid which is almost as fish in other parts of predatory as a bass, live specimens of which ~ we"re received from arbus. Pretoria. renous cichlid, Tilapia OKVAMEliTAL FISH. lber, 1941, by the Rand is is a smaller species A large number of fancy goldfish and other or~amental fish lears to be about nine were brought to South African ports by vessels tradmg from the i kurper ", and it is a Far East and Europe, but the war put a stop to this traffic and the han econol1'l.ic purposes public found difficulty in obtaining supplies from local breeders. It rican distribution, and is very desirable that all O\vners of ornamental ponds should be sting series of observa­ encouraged to keep them stocked with goldfish and other destroyers nmer of 1944-45, when of mosquito larvae. The Jonkershoek Hatchery increased the culture lOuth breeder, although of fancy goldfish to meet this demand, and in 1941 authority was th for transfer. Indi­ given for the publication of a supplementary price list of ornamental ~ggs were adhering, as' fish, garden pond and aquarium sundries, and a booklet for popular lrents were found and instruction was also prepared and put on sale. The Hatchery pos­ were occupied by very sessed facilities for the selective breeding of fancy goldfish and the I that this species had rearing of the fry, and additional installations were added to cope Ie' same extent as T. with the demand for good specimens. In addition to common gold­ y young swimming fry fish, the following fancy varieties are handled :-Comets, Fantails, 1 when disturbed, and Veiltails, Orandos, Shubunkins, Calico Veiltails and Chinese Moors. nto the weed-beds. [[.FO. Annual Report, 1941.J 28

Several kinds of tropical fish have been bred in out-of-door ponds:

during the summer months; but as the provision of electric current Jrom specimens brel Mus~

was delayed during the war period, it has not been practicable to keep' (Annals, SA. ~ some of them in the aquarium building at Jonkershoek during the -remarked l:hat the winter, or to maintain the constant high water temperature required .typical form from ] by others all the year round. Some of the species of tropical fish which A continuous I have been obtained for breeding to meet the popular demand are:• from the Ohio ephi Swordtails (Xiphapharus helleri) , Paradise Fish (Macrapadus through the 1937 wi apercularis), Millions or guppies (Lebistes reticulatus) , Platys or to start them off in

moons (Platypaecilus spp. et var.)' Bettas or Siamese Fighting Fish .some time unsucces (Betta splendens, by favour of the South African Aquarists' Associa• ~ .improve hatching, bl tion, Johannesburg), and Angel Fish or "Scalares" (Pterophyllum ·from the tanks durin scalare, donated by Mr: Armstrong, of Cape Town). were placed in a ref: The Comite Special of the Belgian Congo sent some lungfish .periods of freezing and small Barbus f.or the Jonkershoek aquarium, where they formed 1937, and were we a most interesting and attractive addition. :temperature, were pI S30 p.m. on 14.8.37 .. . DAPHNIA MAGNA. During the night of from these ephippia ,degrees Fahr. did nl From 1930, it became necessary to adopt a new technique at the onkershoek Hatchery for rearing the largemouth bass fry, and water without refrig J :parison. After repe attention was turned to the production of the small Entomostraca Jonkershoek Hatchel or "water fleas ", on which such fry subsist in their early stages. that month the basil Several species of Daphnia were identified from the Jonkershoek ,daphnia available at ponds and were cult.ured in small. cement tanks and earthenware at that time. Since" vessels; but they were found to be seasonal and transitory in occur• -of D. magna going 1

rence, and supplies lasted for only a short time, and it was obvious .has never been bro~ that the best species for such work were not available. These small hatching ephippia to crustaceans shed "winter" or resting eggs (ephippia) when their .cold enough to check season of activity is passing or when the water conditions become :species. Five large < unfavourable for their continued existence. These ephippia retain constructed at the l:J viability, after being dried, for periods of one year and upwards. • .forthis purpose ha Dr. T. H. Langlois, Ohio Division of Conservation, U.S.A., had species of its kind, at recorded the improvement in bass production at the Ohio State Fish eggs are ratlier too b Farms in 1931 due to the intensive cultivation of a large species, ,organisms and the y Daphnia magna, which was done.in large concrete basins of water cultures in spring aI fertilised with sheep manure and stiperphosphate to stimulate the feed with avidity growth of the minute organisms on which these entomostracans feed; 1938-39.] and how relays of such cultures were kept going throughout the b:lsS fry season. [Trans. Amer. Fish. Sacy., 1931, '32 and '33.] THE In 1936, Dr. Langlois kindly sent some dried ephippia of Daphnia o magna, taken from the culture basins at Bucyrus Fish Farm, Ohio, enclosed in letters to the Inland Fisheries Officer, Cape Town, and said The records of . that experience seemed to indicate that freezing was an essential ·.pertaining to propos preliminary to the hatching of the ephippia, as it was found that the from abroad. Some

,tion that niches fille . ~biggest hatch came from those which had remained out of doors all winter in Ohio. After a number of unsuccessful tests in jars and wers.,.quite vacant ir glass tanks, in various water conditions, commenced on May 18th, 'iilVertebrate fauna 0 1936, and continued through the Cape winter, a hatch was obtained ;tive. The aquatic il in a glass tank of rain water early in November, 1936, and some .region, of interest tc femals:;;. soon grew to about 4 mm. long. Dr. K. H. Barnard identified :in a number of m.o these as Daphnia magna, although they did not quite agree in outline African Museum aril

of carapace with the figure given by G. O. Sars for D. magna, Straus,. .Africa during the. p ;trihutcd by Dr. Ke~ ,.,..."

2\.1 leen bred in out~-door ponds. : provision of e1ectric current :from specimens bred from dried mud taken near Saldanha Bay, Cape. lS not been practicable to keep­ (Annals, S.A. Museum, Vol. XV, Pt. IV, 1916.) Sal's, howrver, had Ig at Jonkershoek during the -remarked that the South African specimens differed a little from the h water temperature required .typical form from Europe. [Ann. Rpt., c.P.S., '37.] e species of tropical fish which A continuous line of D: mdgna, descended from those hatched et the popular demand are:­ from the Ohio ephippia, lived in the Inland Fisheries Officer's tanks )aradise Fish (Macropodus :through the 1937 winter at ordinary water temperatures; but attempts bistes reticulatus) , Platys or to star~ them off in receptacles at the Jonkershoek Hatchery were for ias or Siamese Fighting Fish some time unsuccessful. It was found that refrigeration seemed to h African Aquarists' Associa­ .improve hatching, but was not absolutely essential. Ephippia col1ected >r "Scalares" (Pterophyllum ·from the tanks during the early months of 1937, and thoroughly dried, Cape Town). were placed in a refrigerator in April, 1937, and subjected to alternate m Congo sent some lungfish .periods of freezing and thawing. They were removed in August, aquarium, where they formed 1937, and were wet when thawed; and after two days at room In. ;temperature, were put into water taken from a tank of tropical fish at .5.30. p.m. on. 14.8.37, a!1d the water maintained at 68 degrees Fahr. tGNA. Dunng the mght of August 17-18, a large swarm of daphnia emerged from these ephippia; but others from the same batch held at 58 adopt a new technique at the .degrees ~ahr. did ~ot h~tch so readily, and dried ephippia placed in e largemouth bass fry, and wat.er WIthout refngeratIon treatment hatched very sparsely in com­ 1 of the smal1 Entomostraca :panson. After repeated attempts, the transfer of'D. magna to the subsist in their early stages. Jonkershoek Hatchery succeeded in October, 1937, and by the end of Itified from the J onkershoek .that rI.I0nth ~he basins were teeming with them, and the quantity of iTIent tanks and earthenware ,daphma .avaI1ab~e a~ the I:Iatchery was considered to be phenomenal , ;anal and transitory in occur­ .at that time. SI~ce then, It has bee~ possible to keep a large supply . lOrt time, and it was obvious .of D. magna gOIng throughout the year and the chain of live broods re not available. These smal1 .has ~ever b~en. broken, and it has not been necessary to resort to eggs (ephippia) when their hatchIng ephippla to re-start cultures, as the winters have not been enoug~ the water conditions become .cold. to check the continuous progression of this very adaptable :ence. These ephippia retain :specIes. FIve large concrete tanks for tKe liulture of D. magna were constr~cted 1939~ ; of one year and upwards. • at the Hatchery in and since then the plant usable p.urp~se f Conservation, U.S.A., had for.thls has been greatly Increased. D. magna is a large lction at the Ohio State Fish :specIes of Its kInd, and the smal1est individuals emerging from summer ~re ultivation of a large species, .eggs rather too big to be taken by very young fry; but the smal1er rge concrete basins of water ,orgamsm? and .the young of the local species are also present in the SP~In.g erphosphate to stimulate the cultures. In and are sufficienfto tide them over until they can feed WIth aVIdIty on the introduced species. [I F 0 Reports :h these entomostracans feed' 1938-39.J· . . , ept going throughout the b:1s~ 1931, '32 and '33.J me dried ephippia of Daphnia OTHER AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES. t Bucyrus Fish Farm, Ohio, Officer, Cape Town, and said ~~e records of the Jonkershoek Hatchery contained many letters ,t freezing was an essential .pertaInIng to proposed Introduction of various aquatic invert~brates pia, as it-was found that the f.rom abroa? Some suggestions were evidently based on the assump• ld remained out of doors al1 tIOn tha~ mches fil~ed by wel1-known forms in Europe and America lsuccessful tests in jars and ;nere qUIte vacant In Cape waters. This is largely erroneous, as the l~vertebrate fau~a ~f 5,. commenced on May 18th, Cape inland ,,;aters is both rich and representa• "'Inter, a hatch was obtained :tIV~. The .aquatIc Insects and crustacea of. the south-western Cape November, 1936, and some :~eglOn, of Interest to anglers and fish cultunsts, have been dealt with Dr. K. H. Barnard identified ;In ~ number of monographs published in the Annals of the South :lid not quite agree in outline Afr~can M1!seum arid the '!ransactions of the Royal Society of South ). Sars for D. magna, Straus,. .A.fnca dunng the past thIrty years, many of which have been con• tnbuted by Dr. Keppel H. Barnard. \i.

30

The matter of freshwater crayfish is of some interest, as various; selves in the habitats of kinds are marketable delicacies on the continent of Europe, and others undoubtedly a va:luable foe are considered to be a staple food of the black bass in North America. the ProviI)ce, and crab-re There are no true freshwater crayfish in South Africa, and their stomach contents of these place is taken by the ubiquitous freshwater crab;' although in some In addition to the Eu northern waters there are large freshwater prawns. " Australian Red" water Sl When Dr. Gilchrist raised the question of importing freshwater breeds well amongst the crayfish in 1923, Mr. Chaplin replied that he could probably obtain J onkershoek. It was obtai

some from friends in England, 'but that he was doubtful if they would succeed in the western Cape on account of the lack of lime and acidity ~ CLAWEDFR of the waters, although they mIght suit up-country waters. Nothing more was done about the suggestion at that time. The South African < laevis, Daudin, known to In 1937, a few adult red-coloured freshwater crayfish were " platanna ", is regarded wi obtained from a Japanese vessel by the late Mr. B. Peers, of the production of freshwater

Cape Town Snake Park.. Their origin was unknown, but they were­ have an appetite for fish f iro~ of the Astacus group the northern hemisphere, and probably main consideration they we a species from Japan or the Asiatic mainland. Twelve young crayfish certain amount of loathing were obtained from Mr. Peers on March 29th, 1938, when they were fact, quite harmless to hum about half an inch long, and were stated to have ceased clinging to the with the advent of the larg

female about a week before. After this, Mr. Peers lost his entire ~' platannas in their turn we , stock, mainly from death occuring at the time of changing the shell. and that a farm dam conta The twelve survivors were kept in glass tanks and grew rapidly, supply of succulent bass fOI moulting every few weeks. They were omnivorous in diet, taking " siluroid" tadpoles of Xe, worms, meat, lettuce and carrot; but mortality seemed to be reduced and are a valuable food

by giving them plenty of freshwater snails, Limnaea peregrea. The naturally in nearly all wat~ softer parts of their own moulted shells were invariably consumed by tolerance; gulping air at 1 the crayfish, and as there was constant danger of teneral individuals

under stones at the sides 0 ~eing attacked by the others, they had to be separated. Those kept in well in acid peat-stained \'I tanks through the winter took about nine months to grow to three regions. They live out the inches long and mature; but others produced in summer grew to 3i capable of moving overlan< to 4 inches long in four months. In summer it was noted that moist by rain or dew, and slightly less than one month elapsed between pairing and the extrusion or refilled pools which are

of the eggs, which first appeared as a loose and pendulc;ms mass on It is thus difficult to keep whid~ the female worked with her nippers and claws in a process reared, and heavy losses m of compacting them into small bunches adhering to the abdominal large platannas goes undisc< swimmerets-the "berry" consisting of 50 to 100 eggs, according tcr her age and size. In summer, the eggs hatched in less than one month, The platanna has long and the young swam from the swimmerets in five days. In winter,_ in South Africa, taking the all these stages took longer, viz., mating to ovipositing,six weeks;: text-books and practical WOl hatching of "berry", more than two months; and the clinging stage subject for higher studies of·young 12 to 15 days. In the northern hemisphere, crayfish are said since the discovery was m. to retire into burrows during winter, the female in berry not producing the course of research cart young until spring; and it was noted that females in the tanks did not L. Hogben, 1929-30, that feed in fold weather during the incubation period, but started to hunt medical profession as test • snails bHore the young were free-swimming. Mortality was much pregnancy, the demand fOl heavier during the moulting of the adults, and the stock was reduced local use a1rd export. The to one pair, and from these about 100 young were bred and the collectors, who caught them majority put into out-of-door tanks at the Hatchery; and although or from one or more Eurol the females carried eggs none were known to hatch, and the entire of export before the war. stock died off"'by 1940. Some of those in the Hatchery tanks grew and there was some difficu to about five inches long, and the tail-meat had an attractive appear­ as test animals, as they tak, ance; but with every care it did not seem possible to acclimatise them. size. In some cases, it wal It is exceedingly doubtful if imported crayfish could establish them­ had been drained and red :,;~"-~,",c, .!~":';, ~',;~

-~.". _. . -' ,. . . *- . ~ ,

31 if some interest, as various selves in the habitats of indigenous freshwater crab. "'The latter is nent of Europe, and others undoubtedly a valuable food of both trout and bass in the waters of lck bass in North America. the Provi~ce, and crab-remains are a regular occurrence when 'the I South Africa,..~nd their stomach contents of these fish are examined. [I.F.O..Report, 1939.] er crab;' although in some In addition to the European water snail, Limnaea peregr'ia, the prawns. " Australian Red" water snail, Physa dispar (from Sydney, N.'S.W.), n of importing freshwater breeds well amongst the aquatic plants in some of the ponds at : he could probably obtain Jonkershoek. It was obtained from aquarists. was doubtful if they would the lack of lime and acidity CLAWED FROGS (XENOPUS LAEVIS). ~-country waters. Nothing It time. The South African clawed frog (or clawed toad), Xenopus laevis, Daudin, known to most residents by its Afrikaans name of . freshwater crayfish were " platanna ", is regarded with mixed feelings by those interested in the ate Mr.B. Peers, of the production of freshwater fish. The adult frogs are predatory and s unknown, but they were' have an appetite for fish fry, and in the days when trout were the ,hemisphere, and probably main consideration they were looked upon as purely a pest and with a nd. Twelve young crayfish certain amount of loathing for their slimy appearance. They are, in 9th, 1938, when they were­ fact, quite harmless to humans and not objectionable to handle. But, have ceased clinging to the with the advent of the largemouth bass, it was soon realised that the Mr. Peers lost his entire platannas in their turn were taken readily by these predatory fish, :ime of changing the shell. and that a farm dam containing" useless" frogs would soon yield a tanks and grew rapidly, supply of succulent bass for the table. The peculiar plankton-feeding lmnivorous in diet, taking: " siluroid" tadpoles of Xenopus can be produc'ed iJ? large numbers' ality seemed to be reduced and are a valuable food for all predatory fish. Platannas occur s, Limnaea peregrea. The naturally in nearly all waters at the Cape and have it great range of ~re invariably consumed by tolerance; gulping air at the surface of foul !l0nds or sheltering nger of teneral individuals under stones at the sides of mountain streams; and thriving equally e separated. Those kept in well in acid peat-stained waters and, in alkaline pools in limestone months to grow to three­ regions. They live out their life-cycle in water, but the adults are 3~ :ed in summer grew to capable of moving overland at times when their skins can be keptr ummer it was noted that . moist by rain or dew, and they soon find their way into new dams 1 pairing and the extrusion or refilled pools which are in reasonable distance of an old habitat. seand pendul<;>us mass on It is thus difficult to keep them out of f>onas where fry are being rs and claws in a process. reared, and heavy losses may occur if the presence of even a few Idhering to the abdominal large platannas goes undiscovered. . I to 100 eggs, according to­ fted in less than one month, The platanna has long been in general use in educational work s in five days. In winter, in South Africa, taking the place of the common frog in elementary to ovipositing, six weeks;. text-books and practical work in schools, and continuing as a standard :hs; and the clinging stage subject for higher studies in universities and medical schools. But ~misphere, crayfish are said since the discovery was made at the University of Cape Town, in nale in berry not producing the course of research carried out under the direction of Professor emales in the tanks did not L. Hogben, 1929-30, that female platannas are invaluable to the period, but started to hunt medical profession as test animals for the early diagnosis of human ling. Mortality was much pregnancy, the demand for supplies has greatly increased both for and the stock was reduced local use and export. The platannas were obtained from coloured TOung were bred and the collectors, who caught them mainl:9' in small waters on the Cape Flats, e Hatchery; and although or from one or more European dealers who also did a small amount 1 to hatch, and the entire of export before the war. This source of supply was intermittent, the Hatchery tanks grew and there was some difficulty in obtaining mature females for use had an attractive appear­ as test animals, as they take two or more years to reach the desired ossible to acclimatise them. size. In some cases, it was stated that former haunts of platannas rfish could establish them­ had been drained and reclaimed, or that their numbers had been 9.) v_ improvements were made wi gardening. After years. of I reduced by the introduction of largemouth bass. [Corres. and Repts. than one assistant, the terrae. A./120/C/49, 1941.J cement work, clear- ponds " Strong representations were made to the Cape Provincial plants, arrowheads and irises Administration early in 1941, by the Universities of Cape Town and roses and ornamental shrubs Stellenbosch, and by leading medical practitioners, urging that the grown residence and solitar) Jonkershoek Hatchery should take up the culture of platanna frogs house under the spread of no' to insure that supplies should always be available for professional use; l and background of mounta r and that before this could be effected the collection of frogs from farm Hatchery one of the fairest s dams be carried out by the Hatchery staff. Applications for assistance in obtaining supplies of Xenopu$ were also received at that time from When Mr. Chaplin arriv( institutions in the United States, as the war had interrupted private l with Mr. Watermeyer durin traffic of this nature. It be<;ame evident that the Administration would were being renovated. The ( be performing a public service, not only by complying with these a period of five years from Is requests, but by making provision for the future protection of an for a like period. The terms' animal which was gaining an international repute. [I.P.O. Ann. Rpt. not fully secluded, as it com '41.J .. • . which were located the hatc detached sites for the residel In August, 1941, the Curator was authorised to propagate platanna carp. This lease carried the i frogs at the Jonkershoek Hatchery for medical and scientific purposesJ the stream. The rental was Provision was made for the construction of additional concrete tanks lessor had also to provide for holding supplies of platannlls and for the use of Hatchery labour .., that had to go into Stellent and transport in collecting them from farm dams and for the payment weekly. of owners. The draft of the Inland Fisheries Ordinance, No. 15 of 1941, was amended so that jts scope should include aquatic fauna When another lease wal

generally (excepting' mammals, birds and lizards, which are covered Cape Provincial Administrati by other laws)~under which definition Xenopus laevis would fall. plan as a fenced area of a Work was commenced on this new branch of Hatchery service rearing of trout .and other it in 1941, and local deliveries were made and the first shipment sent The all-important water righl to America, but it was obvious that new pond space would have to be was entitled " to take and USl provided for frog production on the scale that was contemplated for stream from a kloof on the the future. is the present source of sUI lessors' right to take 100 galll II. The new lease came into for 1st December, 1927, and the J THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE JONKERSHOEK at three months' notice aJ,ld 1 HATCHERY SITE. was £75 per annum until th annum, and there was a sel As shown in the first part of this review, the lease of the fish and supplies; but after l' original site for the Hatchery was arranged between Mr. F. G. provided all transport. Watermeyer and the Colonial Government early in 1893, and the first phase of pond and furrow construction work was completed by A final revision of the leas the end of that year under Ernest Latour's supervision. It was a in November, 1927, with a I Hatchery site approximately very small affair in December, 1893, but two of the ponds were I. referred to as "Loch Maclean" and "Loch' Brougham" by the Administration had the right

ponds and structures, and to, Resid~t Magistrate of Stellenbosch, when he wrote expressing delight at seemg the Newlands two-year-olds and yearlings "gambolling assistants. The·water supplJ about as lively as crickets" therein. [Latour's letters.] use a filter Jiam (or settling 1 ,,. the feeding stream to prev~ The hatching house, which was completed in 1894 after John L also given the right to use wi

Scott had taken charge, was substantially built of hewn stone, and critical drought. The rental] serves its p4.~pose to the present day. The" overseer's cottage" was 1st December, 1927, and th1 built in 1896, and new wings were added subsequently to make it a terminated by six months' ri comfortable residence set in beautiful surroundings. The development III.] " of the site was very gradual. Scott's additions seem to have been

mainly. utilitarian, with little regard to aesthetics: Chaplin's many ~, 1 improvements were made with appreCIatIOn of landscape and water gardening. After years. of his painstaking work, with rarely more [Corr~ h bass. and Repts. than one assistant, the terraced lawns and rippling furrows aug fine cement work, clear ponds with water-lilies and submerged ~quatic ~ to the Cape Provincial plants, arrowheads and irises and other marginals, garden flowers and versities of Cape Town and roses and ornamental shrubs and trees, combined with the creeper­ 'actitioners, urging that the grown residence and solitary labourer's cottage, the stone hatching le culture of platanna frogs house under the spread of notable oak and the surrounding woodlands ,ailable for professional use; and background of mountain scenery to make the Jonkershoek ollection of frogs from farm Hatchery one of the fairest spots at the Cape. . Applications for assistance :0 received at that time from When Mr. Chaplin arrived to take over the curatorship, he stayed war had interrupted private with Mr. Watermeyer during December, 1907, whilst his quarters lat the Administration would were being renovated. The Government entered into a new lease for y by complying with these a period of five years from 1st December, 1907, with option of renewal the future protection of an for a like period. The terms were rather vague, and the Hatchery was .1 repute. [I.F.O. Ann. Rpt. not fully secluded, as it comprised one area of about two acres on . which were located the hatching house and ponds, and three small detached sites for the residence, cottage and a lower pond used for 110rised to propagate platanna carp. This lease carried the right to" a sufficient water supply" from :dical and scientific purposes) the stream. The rental was £100 per annum, but for this sum the of additional concrete tanks lessor had also to provide transport services for all fish and ova the use of Hatchery labour that had to go into Stellenbosch and to bring out. supplies thrice :rt dams and for the payment leries Ordinance, No. 15 of weekly. lould include aquatic fauna When another lease was drawn up in October, 1914, with the ! lizards, which are covered Cape Provincial Administration, the Hatchery site was shown on a , ~enopus laevis would fall. plan as a fenced area of approximately 5i acres ": for ponds for , branch of Hatchery service rearing of trout .and other fish and fOf buildings and other works". and the first shipment sent The all-important water rights were better defined, and the Hatchery IOnd space would have to be was entitled " to take and use all water which now flows in a natural ~ that was contemplated for stream from a kloof on the right-hand side of the valley and which is the present source of supply to the ~atf<:hery "-subject to the lessors' right to take 100 gallons per diem for domestic purposes only. The new lease came into force as from 1st July, 1914, and ran until 1st December, 1927, and the Administration. had the right to terminate E JONKERSHOEK at three months' notice and to remove all their property. The rental ~. was £75 per annum until the end of 1920, and thereafter fl()() per annum, and there was a separate contract for transport services of review, the lease of the fish and supplies; but after 1918 this contract ceased, and the Curator Inged between Mr. F. G. provided all transport. nt early in 1893, and the on work was completed by A final revision of the lease with the Watermeyer Estate was made lr'S supervision. It was a in November, 1927, with a small addition of land which made the t two of the ponds were Hatchery site approximately six acres. It was made clear that the Loch' Brougham" by the Administration had the right to alter and extend all existing buildings, he wrote expressing delight ponds and structures, and to clear trees for the purpose, and to house nd yearli.ngs "gambolling assistants. The. water supply was further safeguarded by a right to ur's letters.] use a filter dam (or settling pond) above the Hatchery, and to enclose the fe~ding stre~m to prevent fouli~g by animals. The Hatchery was ~ted in 1894 after John L. also given the nght to use water from another small stream in case of built of hewn stone, and critical drought. The rental was dOUbled, to be £200 per annum from . : "overseer's cottage" was 1st December, 1927, and the lease was to continue in force unless subsequently to make it a terminated by six months' notice on either side. [A. 120jCjL, batch undings. The development IlL] litions seem to have been .esthetics: Chaplin's many • 34

Several moves were made, from time to time, for the purchase . The J onkershoek Hal :solely for trout culture, a' of the Hatchery site by the Cape Provincial Administration, as it suitable, as it allows full : was considered to be unsatisfactory to have a State institution develop­ to maintain the aeration , ing on le;rsed land, but there were difficulties in the way of obtaining water as a primary requir a portion of the estate. tively small area,· as the f( The Jonkershoek Estate was purchased by the Union Govern­ liver and other abattoir ( ment in 1933 (after it had been first acquired by the Municipality of produced at the Hatchery Stellenbosch for certain water rights - which are retained by the in the nineteen-thirties, it Municipality) for forest reserve; and more particularly as a Forestry would require major alte acreage; for, in the pro( Research Station for the collection of statistical information on running water is only net " forest influences ", i.e., the effects of afforestation upon the climate, compensate for seepage a the conservation of water for natural springs and reservoirs, the food of such fish must regulation of the flow of strearhs and rivers, and upon erosion. To waste water from trout p quote, further, the words of Dr. C. L. Wicht, Forest Research fish, the difficulty is to ge Officer: "The purchase in :1933 of the Jonkershoek Estate, five miles tion and banking in stony to the south-east of Steilenbosch, afforded the State an excellent through fissures are frequ opportunity of initiating research on the subject. This Estate consists . Jonkershoek Hatchery wh of some 10,000 acres klrIAing the headwaters of the Eerste River. [I.FO. Rpts., 1938-1939.] Adjoining Crown land has also been added to the Estate, and the reserve now comprises some 25,000 acres. Of this total area, 14 per From 1st September, payment of rent for the ] cent., or 3,500 acres, will be afforested. This afforestable portion is for the upkeep and deve! surrounded on three sides by imposing mountains from which arise was safeguarded under j 'f numerous streamlets converging to form the source of the river. . Division of Forestry un ... In addition to the special research work and the normal planta­ afforestation (and not I tion activities, much is being done at J onkershoek to create aesthetic feeding stream-which 1 effects. Ornamental trees will be planted, and afforestation will be stream ". The Division adapted to the. natural contours of the landscape. Flora and fauna immediately below the ori are being protected, and a large Nature Reserve has been established. Subsequent consideration ... With the farm, the Government obtained the beautiful old direction would be restric J onkershoek manor house and outbuildings. All these have been in stony ground and by ,

placed in good repair, and together with the fine grounds, are to be

maintained in traditional manner. The bell from its tower will ag;:tin In 1939, a consider~ call men to work, the gardens will brighten under renewed care, and on the old site. Six co~ under the ancient oaks there will be activity and life as of yore. It is wide and 2t feet deep, \j fitting that the creed of Simon van der Stel-the tree planter-should for the alternative use q be appreciated and fostered on this old freehold, which he granted tanks of this type whidr to Jan de Jonker in 1692." [" Farming in South Africa ", magazine, small laboratory was. fiU Oct., 1937.] appliances and chemicals1 .alterations were made·' No happier fate could be wished for, this beautiful valley, or for improved workshop an the inland fisheries interests in the river and fish cultural station, as were enlarged and dee it is now a national reservation devoted to a long-term programme replace wooden structu of forestry research which includes water conservation. [I.FO. was installed to test a Rpts., '38 and '39.] From 1939 to 1941, W The Cape Provincial Administration continued to pay rent to the the only vacant ground

,could be led, and the, oj Uni9~ Government in terms of the lease with the previous owners; but the Division of Forestry was liberal in the matter of improvement in 1940 and 1941 was

•and upkeep of the buildings on the Hatchery site, and readily agreed used for carrying the b•. p(jn~hich to include additional corners of land so that the site could be some­ a can be gi what enlarged, squared-off and properly fenced against otters. This stream. By the end 0 allowed the fonstruction in 1936 of eight small rectangular ponds on a limited confines of the' slope of old orchard land newly included in the fenced area. this stage all construct • 35 ., ......

th~ to time, for the purchase The Jonkershoek Hatchery site was selected. in. first. place :soiely for trout culture, and for this purpose a hIllsIde IS cmlllently lcial Administration, as it :suitable, as it allows full advantage to be taken of the flow of water a State institution develop­ to maintain the aeration which trout require. With a good flow of es in the way m obtaining water as a primary requiremen~, trout can b~ cult~red.in a lompara­ tively small area, as the food gIven to them IS mamly m the .form of ~d by the Union Govern­ liver and other abattoir offals, sea fish, meals or other thmgs not red by the Municipality of produced at the Hatchery. But with the advent of p<:m~-fish culture which are retained by the in the nineteen-thirties, it became obvious that the eXIstmg Hatchery .considerab~e increas~ : particularly as a Forestry would require major alterations and C?f "water acreage; for, in the production of bass, bluegllls and sl.mllar fish, statistical information on running water is only needed tei prevent complete stagnatIon and to restation upon the climate, compensate for seepage and evaporation, and the main part of the lrings and reservoirs, the food of such fish must be produced at the Hatchery. Whilst the :rs, and upon erosion. To waste water from trout ponds can be used to supply those of pond­ Wicht, Forest Research fish, the difficulty is to get enough acreage on a hill slope, as excava­ kershoek Estate, five miles tion and banking in stony ground is a long and difficult job and leaks :d the State an excellent through fissures are frequent. At this period there was no pond at the bject. This Estate consists Jonkershoek Hatchery which was as large as one-quarter of an acre. ~ters of the Eerste River. [I.F.O. Rpts., 1938-1939.J ed to the Estate, and the Of this total area, 14 per From 1st September, 1939, the Administration was relieved of the payment of rent for the Hatchery site, and assumed all responsibility ~his afforestable portion is )untains from which arise for the upkeep and development of the property. The water supply the source of the river. was safeguarded under the terms of the old arrangement, and the Irk and the normal planta­ Division of Forestry undertook to use "pit-planting" methods of :ershoek to create aesthetic afforestation (and not ploughing) on the catchment area of the feeding stream-which has become known as' the "Bosboukloof and afforestation will be stream ". The Division also agreed to reserve sqme of the land Ildscape. Flora and fauna serve has been established. immediately below the original site for the expansion of the Hatchery. )tained the beautiful old Subsequent consideration showed, however, that expansion in this direction would be restricted by the same -difficulty of making ponds gs. All these have been in stony ground and by limitations of water supply in summer. Ie fine grounds, arc to be from its tower will agilin In 1939, a considerable amount of aev~10pment work was done I under renewed care, and ·on the old site. Six concrete tanks, each 20 feet long by six feet and life as of yore. It is wide and 2~ feet deep, were built for producing Daphnia mmgna, or -the tree planter-should for the alternative use of holding fingerl1ngs-the first set of many eehold, which he granted tanks of this type which were later added to the Hatchery plant. A South Africa ", magazine, small laboratory was fitted up in the hatching house building, and appliances and chemicals were obtained for research ·work. Structural .alterations were made to the buildings to provide a garage and is beautiful valley, or for improved workshop and storage space. Some of the older ponds d fish cultural station, as ,yere enlarged and deepened" and new concrete penstocks made to a long-term programme replace wooden structures. An experimental circular trout fry pool r conservation. [I.P.O. was installed to test a method much used at American hatcheries. From 1939 to 1941, work was carried out on several new ponds on tinued to pay rent to the the only vacant ground at the side of the Hatchery to which water ith the previous owners; could be led, and the otter-proof fencing extended. A large job done e matter of improvement in 1940 and 1941 was the doubling of the size and depth of the pond used for carrying the brown trout breeding fish through the summer­ T site, and readily agreed the site could be some­ a pond which can be given the benefit of the direct flow of the feeding ced against otters. This stream. By the end of 1942, practically all the ground within the II rectangular ponds on a limited confines of the original site had been put into use; and up to Ie fenced area. this stage all construction work had been done by the staff out of • 31]

maintenance funds, with some small votes for special jobs. For the­ first time in the history of the Hatchery, transport work was put on in 1943. A roomy cotta~ a sounder basis by the acquisition in August, 1942, of a light motor <=lUthorised, and the work

truck. In the same year, a meat store and cutting-room for the­ [I.F.O. Rpt., 1942.J preparation of fish food was built. [I.F.G. Rpts., 1941-1942.J

The labourers' quarte In view of the greatly increased demand upon the Jonkershoek house the married non-Eu Hatchery tor both trout ova and pondfish fingerlings, negotiations. 1944. The administrative t had been proceeding since 1940 with the Division of Forestry for May, 1944, and comprised I the acquisition of additional land on which larger ponds could be­ ~ and clerical staff, a labora

constructed. Several sites were considered, but were found to have' .and the aquarium hall.

limitations either of unsuitability of ground or deficiency of water

supply, which would not be desirable in view of the programme of During 1944, deve10pm

1942~ ~ form an extension of the, development envtsaged for the future. Finally, in September, the Division offered a large section of riparian land situated slightly rapidly as possible. The t\1 higher up the Eerste river valley, but near enough for administration. departmentally at a cost of from the Hatchery offices. This new extension site included all the by water from the hill stre, land bordering on the ri\'er.from a point just above the Jonkershoek trout ladder, enabling trout

manor house upstream to the old drift (or ford) below the Black in winter either to be trapp Bridge (a distance of over 1,000 yards), comprising about 30 acres. can be drained completely ~ Some seven or eight acres of farm land, suitable for immediate the lake was stocked with construction of ponds, 'are situated within 500 yards of the gate of perch and bluegill sunfish, a: of bass fry were seen in Oc v the Hatchery; the riparian land continuing upstream offers even .. greater prospects fl/r future development, and a piece of marshy lings were removed by the 4 ground at the foot of the kloof of one of the small tributary streams. to the productive capacity I could be dammed to form a small lake. Part of the higher ground When the new series of pOI was suitable for the site of a foreman's cottage and vegetable garden. operation, it is proposed to \: The land for immediate development was irrigable by means of an old pondfish culture based on tl water-furrow right which had existed in the days of the Watermeyer U.S.A. Estate, which would provide a copious water supply from the Eerste' The Union Departmenl River. [I.F.O. Rpts., 1941 and 1942, and J. H. Rpt., 1941, 1942..J the ponds of the extension able assistance rendered by 1 With this extension site, the Administration acquired control of Taylor, Marsh and Kriel, is half a mile of the Eerste river, which could be used for trout-fishery

-out to tender in April, 19 experimental work and for trapping wild trout in the spawning~ construct the seven pond.$ , season. Stream improvement work for anglers had been commenced acre), and the concrete wat in the Eerste river above the Black Bridge in December, 1941, by sum of £1,650. Constructi, the Hatchery staff in co-operation with the Division of Forestry, and pondfish breeding season of continued in the succeeding summer months until sixty boulder weirs.

will be brought into operati( had been installed. These, li~e similar installations which were put in for experimental purposes some years before, were built low ;mu\ A considerable number of loose materials, but withstood the winter floods most satisfactorily, the extension and headquart and greatly improved part of the upper _Eerste river as a trout­ fishery. Part of the half-mile stretch had been almost unreachable by The hatching house w anglers as it was so overgrown with bush and palmiet rushes, and -output of trout ova, it being the clearing of this section for flood-control would serve a double required for some 200,000 eg purpose,,ll possible by jlansferring th( The principle of extending the scope of the Jonkershoek Hatchery using its space for installin so that it would become a research station for the benefit of the whole­ of glass hatching jars was Province, and of other Provinces and territories which wished to· small eggs of such fish as ba

co-operate, was approved by the Cape Provincial Administration in if necessary. 1942. The consttuction of new buildings to include laboratories, offices~. Four circular rearIng'] a public aquarium and additional staff cottages was authorised, and American pattern, were co plans were drawn and the work was put in the hands of a contractor' proved very successful fbI" I for holding bass fingerlings' •

for special jobs. For the­ ~s,put ftransport work on in 1943. A roomy cottage for the European foreman was also tust, 1942, of a light motor .authorised, and the work was carried out by the same contractor. i and cutting-room for the­ [I.F.O. Rpt., 1942.] I. Rpts., 1941-1942.] The labourers' quarters, four semi-detached brick cottages to hand upon the J onkershoek 110use the married non-European staff, were completed in January, ish fingerlings, negotiations, 1944. The administrative building was ready for full occupation in e Division of Forestry for May, 1944, and comprised offices for the Superintendent, professional hich larger ponds could be and clerical staff, a laboratory with dark room attached, a library 0, but were found to have­ .and the aquarium hall. lUnd or deficiency of water view of the programme of During 1944, development work on the new site which was to :<'inally, in September, 1942~ form an extension of the Jonkershoek Hatchery was continued as iparian land situated slightly rapidly as possible. The two-acre conservation lake was constructed lr enough for administration. departmentally at a cost of £ISO and completed in June. It is fed :tension site included all the by water from the hill streams and its concrete spillway embodies a : just above the Tonkershoek trout ladder, enabling trout which can run up from the Eerste river (or ford) below the Black in winter either to be trapped or allowed to enter the lake. The lake , comprising about 30 acres. can be drained completely when required. As a preliminary measure, ilnd, suitable for immediate the lake was stocked with largemouth and spotted bass, and some in 500 yards of the gate of perch and bluegill sunfish, and fertilised periodically. The first shoals luing upstream offers even of bass fry were seen in October, 1944, and some 3,000 select finger­ :nt, and a piece of marshy lings were removed by the end of the year-a very valuable addition f the small tributary streams, to the productive capacity of the ponds on the old Hatchery site. Part of the higher ground \Vhen the new series of ponds on the extension site is brought into cottage and vegetable garden. operation, it is proposed to use this lake for control1ea experiments in irrigable by means of an old pondfish culture based on the work of Swingle. and Smith, Alabama, the days of the Watermeyer U.S.A. , ~ater supply from the Eerste The Union Department of Ir~igation compl~ted the plans for :d J. H. Rpt., 1941, 1942.J the ponds of the extension site in February, 1944, and the very listration acquired control of able assistance rendered by the engineers of that Department, Messrs. ,uld be used for trout-fishery Taylor, Marsh and Kriel, is greatly appreciated. The work was put vild trout in the spawning. out to tender in' April, 1944, and Mr. ",c. F. Smit contracted to mglers had been commenced construct the seven ponds (three of one acre and four of half an idge in December, 1941, by .acre), and the concrete water furrow from the Eerste river for the he Division of Forestry, and sum of £1,650. Construction was nqt completed in time for the lths until sixty boulder weirs pondfish breeding season of 1944,. but it is hoped that these new ponds Installations which were put will be brought into operation for. the 1945 season. , before, were built low ;lnd, tel' floods most satisfactorily, A considerable number of Ol;namental trees were planted both on ~r _Eerste river as a trout­ the extension and headquarters sites. I been almost unreachable by The hatching house was adapted to provide for an increased Ish and palmiet rushes, and output of trout ova, it being anticipated that accommodation would be ntml would serve a double required for some 200,000 eggs during the 1945 winter. This was made possible by transferring the old laboratory to the new building and :>f the Jonkershoek Hatchery using its space for installing additional hatching troughs. A battery for the benefit of the whole­ of glass hatching jars was also installed along one wall, so that the territories which wished to· small eggs of such fish as bass and indigenous species could be handled Jrovincial Administration in if necessary. :> include laboratories, offices" Four circular rearing pools, made in concrete to the standard ottages was authorised, and American pattern, were constructed and put into operation. They in the hands of a contractor- proved very successful for rearing trout; and subsequently were used for holding bass fingerlings with good results. 38

III. Ceres Municip. )"1r. G. D. Jam HATCHERY PRODUCTION: 1944. Cape Town'M Balance retainec TROUT OVA AND FRY.

The Jonkershoek Hatchery sustained a very serious lo£s just The 4,000 trout fingerlin before the spawning season of 1944. A family of Cape Clawless the newly-acquired fish transl Otters (believed to consist of dog, bitch and three cubs-the dog wooden tanks. weighing more than 40 pounds when trapped) broke through the wire fencing, which was not up to standard strength owing to war-time PONDFISH, ORNAl shortages. The otters killed a number of large, selected female trout during one night, at a time when they were sorted and ready for The following were des! stripping. Despite this mishap, the 200,000 level of production of during 1944 to applicants ir eyed ova was realised and surpassed. and South-West Africa,-inc1' 66,000 brown trottt' eyed ova were produced, an increase of by rail;­ 10,000 on the previous season. These were distributed as follows:­ Cape Pr.ovince . . . . " 27,000 Cape. ::'-J atal • ...... 12,000 Largemouth Bass 212,. Transvaal ...... 24.000 Spotted Bass .. 1,645 Orange Free State . . . . 3,000 Smallmouth Bass .. 1,083 Bluegill Sunfish .. 1,229' 66,000 '( Sub-total .. 4,169 '­ Goldfish 965 , The production of rainbow trout ova was nearly clouble the

Other Ornamental Fish 142 total of the pr~vious year, and eyed ova were distributed as follows:­ Gambusia Top-Minnows 204 C;:ape Province ...... 40,000 Transvaal ...... 72,000 Totals .. 5,48C Rhodesia ...... 26,000 Output (including frogs) 138,000 follows :­ 194 \\7hen journeys of four days' duration or less were involved, the Pondfish . . . . 2,2( eggs. were packed in wooden boxes and sent by parcels post. Some Goldfish & Om. Fish . ; consignments were lost owing to delays in transit, as this service was Frogs .. working under difficulties at that period. All large consignments were sent in ice boxes by railway parcels service, and the small loss of eggs 2,2; incurred testifies to the efficacy of this means of transport. The following table shows the increased production of 1944 The intensity of producti, compared with that of recent years:­ its expansion) will be appn 1940. 1941. 1942. 1943. 1944. species of fish were cultured under two acres were deva Brown Trout Ova .. 13,000 30,000 40,000 56,000 66,000 fingerlings were therefore p Rainbow Trout Ova. 18,000 21,000 38,000 76,000 138,000 American findings, a producti satisfactory.

!,ftals 31,000 51,000 78,000 132,000 204,000 \ This int~ive productiol ability to breed natural food

Owing to the fact that the majority of the trout ova were sent etc.) in large quantities. TIl away at the eyed stage, only a limited number of fry were available f duction is so vitally import~ !

fOJ' rearing for local distributions over and above the stock required Officers, guided by the Supd at the Hatcb~ry. Allocations were as follows:­ devising means of improving' 38

III. Ceres Municip; Mr. G. D. Jom HATCHERY PRODUCTION: 1944. Cape Town'M Balance retaine(

TROUT OVA AND FRY. lo~s The Jonkershoek Hatchery sustained a very serious just The 4,000 trout fingerlin before the spawning season of 1944. A family of Cape Clawless the newly-acquired fish transI Otters (believed to consist of dog, bitch and three cubs-the dog wooden tanks. weighing more than 40 pounds when trapped) broke through the wire fencing, which was not up to standard strength owing to war-time PONDFISH, ORNAl shortages. The otters killed a number of large, selected female trout during one night, at a time when they were sorted and ready for The following were desl s,tripping. Despite this mishap, the 200,000 level of production of during 1944 to applicants ir eyed ova was realised and surpassed. and South-West Africa,"'"ind 66,000 brown trollt: eyeel ,ova were produced, an increase of by rail:­

10,000 on the previous season. These were distributed as follows:­ Cape~

Cape Pr.ovince ...... 27,000 ~atal • ...... 12,000 Largemouth Bass 212.: Transvaal ...... 24,000 Spotted Bass .. 1,645 Orange Free State . . . . 3,000 Smallmouth Bass .. 1,083 Bluegill Sunfish .. 1,229 66,000 \ Sub-total .. 4,169 • Goldfish 965 , The production of rainbow trout ova was nearly double the

Other Ornamental Fish 142 total of the pr~vious year, and eyed ova were distributed as follows:­

Gambusia Top-Minnows 204 ~ape Province . . . . " 40,000 Transvaal ., . . . . " 72,000 Totals .. 5,48C Rhodesia ...... " 26,000 Output (including frogs) 138,000 follows :­ 194 \Vhen journeys of four days' duration or less were involved, the Pondfish . . . . 2,2( eggs. were packed in wooden boxes and sent by parcels post. Some Goldfish & Om. Fish . i consignments were lost owing to delays in transit, as this service was Frogs .. working under difficulties at that period. All large consignments were­ sent in ice boxes by railway parcels service, and the small loss of eggs 2,2i incurred testifIes to the efficacy of this means of transport. The following table shows the increased production of 1944 The intensity of productil compared with that of recent years:­ its expansion) will be appn 1940. 1941. 1942. 1943. 1944. species of fish were cultured

under two acres were devo

Brown Trout Ova ., 13,000 30,000 40,000 56,000 66,000 fingerlings were therefore p Rainbow Trout Ova. 18,000 21,000 38,000 76,000 138,000 American findings, a productii ~ satisfactory. 31,000 51,000 78,000 132,000 204,000 , !Rtals This inteasive productiol ability to breed natural food Owing to the fact that the majority of the trout ova were sent etc.) in large quantities. Th away at the eyed stage, only a limited number of fry were available t duction is so vitally irnporta: for rearing for local distributions over and above the stock required Officers, guided by the Supd at the Hatchny. Allocations were as follows:­ devising means of improving' 39 ......

Ceres Municipality 4,000 ::Vir. G. D. Jooste .. 500 nON: 1944. ..­ Cape Town Municipality 2,000 Balance retained 1,500 'DFRY. 8,000 ~d a very serious loss just A family of Cape Clawless The 4,000 trout fingerlings for Ceres were delivered by road in :h and three cubs-the dog the newly-acquired fish transport vehicle-a three-ton lorry fitted with >ped) broke through the wire wooden tanks. strength owing to war-time f large, selected female trout PONDFISH, ORNAMEj\ITAL FISH AND FROGS. were sorted and ready for 1,000 level of production of The following were despatched from the Jonkershoek Hatchery during 1944 to applicants in the Union, Rhodesia, Belgian Congo and South-West Africa,-'including 183 individual consignment~ sent e produced, an increase of by rail:­ ere distributed as follows:­ Bel. S.-W. 27,000 Cape. a.F.S. Tvl. Natal. Rhod. Congo Afr. Total. 12,000 Largemouth Bass 212 81' 50 36 379 24,000 Spotted Bass 1,645 168 200 414 32 2,459 3,000 Smallmouth Bass .. 1,083 64 466 1,613 Bluegill Sunfish .. 1,229 315 652 50 70 8 2,324 66,000 Sub-total .. 4,169 564 966 50 986 '8 32· 6,775 ova was nearly double the Goldfish 965 17 98 80 1,160 rere distributed as follows:­ Other Ornamental Fish 142 4 12 158 , Gambusia Top-Minnows 204 4, 208 ~ 40,000 ".. ' 72,000 Totals .. 5,480 5851,080 130 986 8 32 8,301 26,000 Output (including frogs) compared with previous years was as 138,000 follows:- • ~ 1940. 1941. 1942. 1943. 1944." III or less were involved, the Pondfish 2,200 2,700 3,200 7,000 6,775 sent by parcels post. Some Goldfish & Orn. Fish . 77 105 710 1,617 1,:26 1 transit, as this service was Frogs .. 350 2,700 4,300 3,547 All large consignments were e, and the small loss of eggs 2,277 3,155 6,610 12,917 11,847 t' neans of transport. reased production of 1944 The intensity of production at the Jonkershoek Hatchery (before its expansion) will be appreciated when it is considered that 15 1942. 1943. 1944. species of fish were cultured on a site of about four acres, of which under two acres were devoted to pondfish. Approximately 5,000 40,000 56,000 66,000 fingerlings were therefore produced per acre; and, according to 38,000 76,000 138,000 American findings, a production of 3,000 per acre is considered to be satisfactory. 78,000 132,000 204,000 This intensive production of fish is only made possible by the ability to breed natural food (such as daphnia, aquatic insect larvae, of the trout ova were sent etc.) in large quantities. Th~ problem of continuous daphniil; pro­ 1mber of fry were available duction is so vitally important that the two Assistant Professional ld above the stock required Officers, guided by the Superintendent, worked on it for six months, lows:­ devising means of improving the cultural technique. 40

Under such crowded conditions, fish diseases and parasites are Scherag, Ltd. The requiremeIl liable to appear, and when they do appear to spread rapidly. The and Cape Town were also met. first serious epidemic occurred early in the year when largemouth bass fingerlings began to die in large numbers. Mr. S. S. du Plessis made a detailed study of this subject, and succeeded in discovering an internal parasite, and is working on the complicated problem of RE:s

its life history. Despite a great deal of time devoted to the matter, a cure has not yet been found. About 5,000 largemouth bass finger­ Owing to the large am~unt lings were lost from this trouble, and this is reflected in the output Fisheries Department, the Supe figures for 1944. A detailed report was submitted on 26.5.44 for than plan and control the rese ()fficial records. Hatchery during 1944. It is not often possible in this climate to send bass and bluegill Both Assistant Professiomi fingerlirlgs to distant applicants after about the middle of November, both on the major problems arisi as the weather becomes too warm for safe transport by rail by the and in connection with numer< time that the majority of recently-bred fish are large enough to be The latter included calls for , planted out. Fingerlings can be taken to places within road transport diseases and the naming of fis range of the Hatchery in summer, or short rail journeys may be specimens were sent to Dr. K. possible; but most of the orders from distant places have to be held Museum, and thanks and appre< ()ver until the onset of cooler weather in April or May of the following and willing assistance. year. This climatic factor tends to restrict the output of the Hatchery, As major problems, the foll< as it is during the summer holding period that the heaviest losses of fingerlings occur. The young fish must be given sufficient food ( 1) The Iife history and I to keep them healthy, but not enough to induce them to grow out Daphnia ma!flU1, as a f04 to a size whicl]. is too large for transportation in fish-cans by rail and du Plessis. . when the autumn distributing seaSon arrives. (2) The life history and cc From the foregoing, it will be apparent that by 1944 the pro­ the kidney of largemoutl duction on the prigiilal Hatchery site had been raised to more than (3) The aquatic plants and saturation point, and that no further increase of output could be Mr. Blommaert. expected until such time as the new extension site afforded a larger Preliminary reports on these, water acreage for the breeding of pondfish and additional facilities A number of water analyses for carrying fingerlings through the summer months. with the pollution of rivers and There is an increasing demand from all over the country for otherwise of waters for fish. goldfish and other ornamental fish, and the quality of the stock and Various surveys were made technique of breeding at the Jonkershoek Hatchery have been steadily viz., Vogelvlei, Wellington, to t improved. In 1944, a number of valuable stock goldfish were lost with bass and bluegills; Lauren! when the otters raided the Hatchery grounds; and this misfortune on the construction of boulder .caused a setback in the production which had been aimed at. With their efficacy; and Bethal Resen

the stock of calico veiltails (received by the courtesy of the South of stocking with largemouth bas~ African Aquarists' Association), the range of popular varieties on hand

dations regarding the latter wen i~ fairly complete, but some lionheads are. still required. All orders

()n hand were executed in 1944, and were exceeded by tQe bookings Council. for the following s~ason. Various water pollution insp connection with complaints rega A number of tropical fish were bred in tanks out-of-doors during

the summer, and were distributed. Breeding stocks of ten popular rivers. kinds were held in aquaria in the Superintendent's residence and ~. Other journeys were made t.

the Department of Zoology of the University of Stellenbosch during (a) The Berg River to stud co~d weatker. It will not be possible to undertake large-scale breeding (A similil1' trip to' the ( (){ tropical fish until electric current is available at Jonkershoek. the effects of the establi Some thousands of Xenopus frogs were distributed during 1944, fish, had to be cancell~< the majority going to the United States of America. Supplies were r (b) <;eres, to liberate 4,000 sent to the New York Aquarium and to Mr. L. C. Herring in rIvers. Florida, in addit.ion to fulfilment of standing orders with Messrs. .,., ,~. ~

~~~ ~ ­

~...;:_ •-~- ...,a$. _- ~ -~ ~'-- ~' -_ ...

41 ish diseases and parasites are Scherag, Ltd. The requirements of the Universities of Stellenbosch >pear to spread rapidly. The and Cape Town were also met. n the year when largemouth umbers. Mr. S. S. du Plessis IV. and succeeded in discovering 1 the complicated problem of RE.SEARCH. f time devoted to the matter, 5,000 largemouth bass finger­ Owing to the large amount of administrative work in the Inland :his is reflecteu"';n 'the output Fisheries Department, the Superintendent was able to do little rritire 'as submitted on 26.5.44 for than plan and control the research work done at the Jonkershoek Hatchery during 1944. late to send bass and bluegill Both Assistant Professional Officers did very satisfactory work, out the middle of November, both on the major' problems arising from fish culture at the Ha~chery, safe transport by rail by the and in connection with numerous enquiries sent in by the public. fish are large enough to be The latter included calls for water analyses, identification of fish I places within road transport diseases and the naming of fish specimens. In the latter case all short rail journeys may be specimens were sent to Dr. K. H. Barnard, of the South African ,istant places have to be held Museum, and thanks and appreciation are due to him for his kind !\pril or May of the following and willing assistance. :t the output of the Hatchery, riod that the heaviest losses As major problems, the following studies are being developed:­ lust be given sufficient food (1) The life history and cultivation of the giant water flea, to induce them to grow out Daphnia magna, as a food for pondfish-Messrs. Blommaert ~rtation in fish-cans by rail and du Plessis. rives. (2) The life history and control of the trematode parasite in larent that by 1944 the pro­ the kidney of largemouth bass fry-Mr. du Plessis. ld been raised to more than (3) The aquatic plants and their importance in fish culture• ncrease of output could be . Mr. Blommaert. ension site afforded a larger [fish and additional facilities Preliminary reports on these. problems have been maae. A number of water analyses were undertaken, both in connection lmer months. , m all over the country for with the pollution of rivers and for determining the suitability or otherwise of waters for fish. ' . ~he quality of the stock and Hatchery have been steadily Various surveys were made in the Cape Province during 1944, ble .stock goldfish were lost viz., Vogelvlei, Wellington, to examine the suitability of stocking ~unds; and this misfortune with bass and bluegills; Lourens River, Somerset West, to advise st.Wse~uently 1 had been aimed at. With on the construction of boulder weirs and to examine the courtesy of the South their efficacy; and Bethal Reservoir, Paarl, to report on the effects of popular varieties on hand of stocking with largemouth bass. A detailed report and recommen­ e still required. All orders dations regarding the latter were submitted to' the Paarl Municipal e exceeded by tQe bookings Council. ' ' Various water pollution inspections aQd samplings were done in t1 tanks out-of-doors during connection with complaints regarding the Berg, Dwars and Eerste ling stocks of ten popular rivers. ~rintendent's residence and Other journeys were made to:­ sity of Stellenbosch during (a) The Berg River to study the spawning habits of the witvis. lertake large-scale breeding (A similar trip to the Olifants River, Clanwilliam, to study lilable at Jonkershoek. the effects of the establishment of bass upon the indigenous re distributed during 1944, fish, had to be cancelled owing to unsuitable weather.) f America. Supplies were (b) c;eres, to liberate 4,000 trout fingerlings and examine the o Mr. L. C. Herring in nvers. ding orders with Messrs. I I 42

( c) Soetendalsvlei, Bredasdorp, to liberate 2,000 bass fingerlings interest amongst the enorIl and examine the rivers and lake. grounds. The exhibit was As a preliminary to the general survey of the inland waters of 130 feet long, and was pn the Cape Province, to which this Administration is committed by a the economic value of iola resolution of the Executive Committee, questionnaires have been sent value; display of. ornamenl to all local authorities in order to obtain basic information regarding the control of tropical dis the possibilities of inland fisheries development. bilharzia. The aquaria of 1 officers were on duty from Two students, Messrs. L. P. D. Gertenbach and C. Lochner, two from Head Office, Ca" have been engaged upon part-time research at the Jonkershoek Hatchery staff. It is estima Hatchery. Mr. Gertenbach, an economist, has been preparing a paper Inland Fisheries Section, on the economic importance of inland fisheries, and Mr. Lochner through free of charge. It v

is working on a thesis, the subject of which is hatchery planni~g. this exhibition brought inti people, from town and COil v. reached by other forms of I Cavalcade, radio broadcasts PUBLICATIONS, PUBLICITY A0JD LIBRARY. During 1944, public lee The library of the Inland Fisheries Department grew" steadily ( 1) Students' Scientific during 1944, both as. the result of the purchase of books and perio­ dicals and the receipt ot complimentary copies of papers and reports. (2) Paarl Rotary Socil

It comprised 140 reference books, 15 series of periodicals, 17 series (3) Maatskaplike Rek of annual reports and 800 reprints of technical papers, all of which of lectures were ~ were fully indexed. Included are some privately-owned books on sity of Stellenboscl " loan use". ,It is hoped to extend the system of exchanging publica­

,, tions to as many overseas fisheries institutions as possible. Numerous visitors wer The aquarium hall was o~~ A list of p'ublications prepared by officers of this Department, 462 visitors had passed thrc and available, on the exchange basis or at a nominal price, is given As visitors were usually in J on the cover ,page of the present report. of work devolving on the s: The book, "Ons Binnelandse Visserye ", published in the series Among them were many , , "Kennis vir Almal ", was very well received, and ran into a second Congo and elsewhere. " edition. The aquarium tanks, 1 The series of articles on "The Establishment and Maintenance .. with one large tank of 3 fe, of Freshwater Fish in South Africa" proved so popular that they trout. They are displayed Q were revised and republished in booklet form. It is hoped that this cabinet has been built into t publication will serve as a basis of information on fish farming in fish cultured at the Batd South Africa. The original series was translated into Afrikaans and French. amphibia, etc., are on vi.ew Detailed notes, together with blueprints, entitled "Notes on Experiments are being. Practical Fish Culture ", were prepared during the year for distribu­ bosch and Paarl districts t4 tion to people concerned with fish breeding on hatchery lines. It is can be produced in such d

PUBLICITY. of great value for lectures,

. ~ t Speci~n cases showil

In March, 1944, an Inland Fisheries exhibit was staged at the aquatic insects were prepa'

Western Province Liberty Cavalcade held at Green Point, Cape Union Department of Edu4 Town. It was undoubtedly the most ambitious inland fisheries publicity ~ attempt to be made in South .Africa, and aroused a great amount of these subjects. ...~... , 43 ~o" liberate 2,000 bass fingerlings interest amongst the enormous crowds gathered in the, Cavalcade Ilake. grounds. The exhibit was housed in a special building, 20 feet by •survey of the inland waters of 130 feet long, and was presented in four sections,' vi0., illustrating tlministration is committed .by a the economic value of inland fisheries; the recreational or sporting ee~ ques~io~naire.~h~ve been sent value; display of ornamental fishes; the use of freshwater fish in (tam baSIC mformatlOn regarding the control of tropical disease such as malaria, yellow fever and eVelopment. , bilharzia. The aquaria of live fish attracted a lot of attention. Five D. Gertenbach and C. Lochner, officers were on duty from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily during t¥ week, ~ research at the J onkershoek two from Head Office, Cape Town, and three of the Jonl<:ershoek ~ist, has been preparing a paper Hatchery staff. It is estimated that some 7,000 adults paid to see the and fisheries, and l'vIr. Lochner Inland Fisheries Section, and that 45,000 schoolchildren passed ,f which is hatchery planning. through free of charge. It was the opinion of all officers engaged that this exhibition brought interest in inland fisheries to hundreds of people, from town and country alike, who would never have been reached by other forms of publicity. In conjunction with the Liberty ::ITY AND LIBRARY. Cavalcade, radio broadcasts were also made. , During 1944, public lectures were given to the following;­ leries Department grew steadily he purchase of books and perio­ (1) Students' Scientific Society, Stellenbosch. arycopies of papers and reports. (2) Paarl Rotary Society. 5 series of periodicals, 17 series ( 3) Maatskaplike Rekonstruksie CroeI'l, Stellenbosch, and a of technical papers, all of which of lectures were given to M.Sc. students of the Univer­ some privately-owned books on sity of Stellenbosch. he system of exchanging publica­ lStitutions as possible. Numerous visitors were received at the Hatchery during 1944. by officers of this Department, The aquarium hall was op~ned to the public on 1st September, and or at a nominal price, is given 462 visitors had passed through the building by the end of the year. ort. As visitors were usually in groups of,two to five persons, the amount of work devolving on the staff in conducting them was considerable. risserye ", published in the series Among them were many distinguished visitors from the Belgian received, and ran into a second Congo and elsewhere. . Establishment and Maintenance ,. The aquarium tanks, 11 in all, are 3 feet by 3 feet by 4 feet, a" proved so popular that they with one large tank of 3 feet by 4 feet by 16 feet for exhibiting big >klet form. It is hoped that this trout. They are displayed in a hall 25 feet by 30 feet, and a museum information on fish farming in cabinet has been built into the wall not used for tanks. All the exotic ~as as translated into Afrikaans and fish cultured at the Hatchery, as well many indigenous fish,

44 VI.

CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES. INLAND FISHERIES MATTER"S. REPC With the expansion of the Jonkershoek Inland Fish Hatchery, OFFIC the distribution of fish to all Provinces of the Union, to the Rhodesias and to adjoining territories has considerably increased. The inland The Inland Fisheries I fisheries were placed in the charge of the Provincial Administrations Provincial Building, Wale by the Act of Union, but inland waters must naturally be demarcated and records and other pap by ecological, rather than by Provincial, boundaries. Therefore, it was was conducted from there felt that the development of South Africa's inland fisheries would be other times when necessaq carried out on a sounder basis if there existed a good measure of information service, directio co-operation between the various provinces and territories on the continued to be done, as b broader aspects of this subject-than if each were to develop along office in St. George's House its own lines. Furthermoie, such collaboration in the initial stages of No attempt was made to dis( development, by .encouraging inteichange of ideas and unity of would have reduced the st purpose amongst the inland fisheries officials of the various administra­ for the public since 1937; al tions, would obviate ullneocssary duplication of effort; research work it would not be possible to and hatchery plant. only at stated times at Hea. of visitors seeking informa Consequently, on the initiative of Mr. J. D. de Villiers, Provincial diminish. The normal touri Secretary of the Cape Province, a meeting of delegates from each came to the Cape on holida

Province of the. Union was caUed to discuss this matter on July 17th, ~. Asia as they could not get , 1942. As a result of that meeting, the Joint Provincial Inland increase of residents, with m Fisheries Advisory Board was formed, to consist of two delegates displaced by enemy occupati from each Provincial Administration. visitors expressed their inten At the first meeting of the Board, held on February 19th, 1943, time conditions. In additiori in Cape Town; the Cape, Transvaal and Orange Free State were recreational fisheries, others represented. At the second meeting held in Cape Town on January and similar matters. 21st, 1944, the following policy was approved:­ Inland Fisheries Ordinance The aim of the Joint Provincial Inland Fisheries Advisory Board No amendments have be is to develop the inland waters of the Union, firstly for economic, No. 15 of 1941 since its pror

and secondly for sporting purposes, by the following means:- .. I ment to the Inland Fisherif (1) To take stock of the assets by a thorough scientific survey made in December, 1944 ~ l of all inland waters. a weekly licence for trout !I (2) Where it is found that indigenous species of fish of economic dealing with inland fisherie value are established, these shall be encouraged and the ! local significance. Several introduction of exotic fish be prohibited. recognition in terms of secti (3) Where it is found that waters are unstocked or stocked was done during the year up< only with inferior species of fish, then the most suitable laws of the four Province! species of exotic fish shall be introduced. suggestions for improveme with the policy expressed 1 (4) All waters shall be maintained in as favourable a condition Advisory Board. as possible by taking active measures to prevent pollution by Law Enforcement: trade wastes, etc.

Reports received from

(5~ The. adoption of inla.nd fisheries legislation which shall be ~ sources were investigated. - applicable to all Provlllces. f police actiOlf. In one parti. Later, in 1944, the Natal Provincial Administration decided that i were laid on, with the res a useful purpose would be served if Natal were represented on the I illegal netting, and fined £S Joint Provincial Inland Fisheries Advisory Board. Natal was admitted

Complaints regarding as a full me~~er of the Board at the meeting held in Cape Town on January 19th, 1945. r Superintendent for investiga I is growing every year with. ,::;.1

~~ , ....~

45

VII...... iR PROVINCES AND ~S. INLAND FISHERIES ADMINISTRAnON: GENERAL r ..­ MATTERS. REPORT OF INLAND FISHERIES ~hoek Inland Fish Hatchery. OFFICER, CAPE TOWN. I the Union, to the Rhodesias ,. f'ably increased. The inland The Inland Fisheries Officer occupied room M-6 in the new le Provincial Administrations Provincial Building, Wale Street, Cape Town, during June, 1944, must naturally be demarcated and records and other papers, etc., were moved in. Official work )oundaries. Therefore, it was· was conducted from there between certain hours each day and at :a's inland fisheries would be other times when necessary or by appointment. The bulk of the : existed a good measure of information service, direction of visitors and contact with the public bces and territories on the continued to be done, as before, at all times of the day, from the each wer~ to develop along office in St. George's House, because that address was better known. ration in the initial stages of No attempt was made to discourage this or centralise the work, as this ge of ideas and unity of would have reduced the standard of information service provided als of the various administra­ for the public since 1937; and on many days, particularly in summer, tion of effort; research work it would not be possible to satisfy all visitors by interviewing them only at stated times at Head Office. During the war years, the flow '. J. D. de Villiers, Provincial of visitors seeking information about recreational fisheries did not ting of delegates from each diminish. The normal tourist movement ceased; but instead, people uss this matter on July 17th, came to the Cape on holiday from all parts of Africa and southern he Joint Provincial Inland Asia as they could not get to Europe, and there was a temporary to consist of two delegates increase of residents, with means to visit the fishing resorts, who were displaced by enemy occupation in the· Far East. Many of these new visitors expressed their intention of returning to the C~pe under peace­ eld on February 19th, 1943, time conditions. In addition to persons requiring direction about the Id Orange Free State were recreational fisheries, others wanted advice on the. stocking of waters in Cape Town on January and similar matters. oved:­ Inland Fisheries Ordinance and Regulations: ld Fisheries Advisory Board Union, firstly for economic, No amendments have been made to the Inland Fisheries Ordinance :he following means:- No. 15 of 1941 since its promulgation in June, 1942. The first amend­ ·0 ment to the Inland Fisheries Regulations, P.A.N. 237 of 1942, was a thorough scientific survey made in December, 1944 - an addition to 'Re~ulation No.6 to provide a weekly licence for trout fishing for male adults. A few Notices s species of fish of economic dealing with inland fisheries matters fra~ed during 1944 had only all be encouraged and the local significance. Several angling associ;ttions were granted official prohibited. recognition in terms of section sixteen of the Ordinance. Some work i are unstocked or stocked was done during the year upon a review and digest of the inland fishery ish, then the most suitable laws of the four Provinces of the Union with a view to making ltroduced. suggestions for improvements and more uniformity in accordance with the policy expressed by the Joint Provincial Inland Fisheries n as favourable a condition Advisory Board. iures to prevent pollution by Law Enforcement: ;; legislation which shall be Reports received from Honorary Fishing Inspectors and other sources were investigated. Some were found to have grounds for police action. In one particularly glaring case, special police patrols Administration decided that were laid on, with the result that three persons were convicted of tal were represented on the illegal netting, and fined £5 each and two seine-nets confiscated. Board. Natal was admitted ~ting held in Cape Town on Complaints regarding river pollution were referred to the Superintendent for investigation by the professional staff. This danger is growing every year with industrial expansion, and it is appropriate 46

that the. facilities of this Department, for water analysis and the Fishing Inspectors under

provision of technical evidence, were so greatly increased during was done so that they Ci 1944. It is hoped that recommendations mad~ last year, regarding the rivers, on which the Cape tightening of the laws relating to the pollution of public streams, will into line with those of Na soon be given effect. the licences of both Provit applies to the U mtamvuu; Inland Fishing Licences: Ngwangwana and N'Dow During the financial year 1.4.43 to 31.3.44, the total number of vincial Administration pUl inland fishing licences sold in the Cape Province was 1,212, to the a nature reserve and trou value of £511. There was again an increase in the number of licences the fishing on their side. sold, and the figures for the four preceding financial years were as Field Work, Surveys and follows:­ Restrictions on the uS( 1.4.42 to 31.3.43: 1,021 licences, value £447. the field work previously 1.4.41 to 31.3.42:' 901 licences, value £476. he accompanied the Sup

1.4.40 to 31.3.41: 1,014 licences, value £520. occasions when the transpo 1.4.39 to 31.3~40: 935 .licences, value £536. three days in February, 19 a private trout stream whic It is surmised that the public again bought more of the lower­ characters, and a report w:

priced licences, viz., the 2s. 6d. season licence for bass, the 5s. season which have been carried O1:h~ licence for trout and non-indigenous fish for women and juve­ connection with the smallm niles, and the lOs. monthly licence for trout fishing for male adults. section of the upper Beq It is improbable that the average yearly sale of 450 trout licences at previous years, relating to £1 for male adults per season, based on the period 1937, 1938, 1939, Eerste River, the peat-sta was approached during the fi\lancial year 1943-44. The introduction officials of the Cape Town ': of the new 3s. '6d. weekly trout licence for male adults is expected to panied in visits to various ' . be a popular concession; and is especially welcomed by the Inland developed. The usual serv Fisheries Officer, who comes into contact with numerous visitors, etc., for age-determinatiOl many of whom have only time for a day or so of trout fishing and Officer assisted in the prep have shown some resentment on being informed that thcy must pay the public at the Liberty ( a minimum fee of lOs. It is quite likely that the 3s. 6d. minimum of the Jonkershoek Inlan< licence will lead to some increase in revenue, as people are inclined 8th, 1944, during the abse to take the matter rather lightly, and let an odd day's trout fishing go by default rather than pay lOs. This Department is at present working under a handicap regarding licence returns, and the only figures available are the bulk totals for the whole Cape Province for the financial year April 1st to March 31st. It will not be possible to check the licence sales in a proper manner and to get a clear picture of what is happening throughout the Province until the annual practice existing before 1941 can be revived, i.e., until detailed returns from all Receivers of Revenue can again be sent to this Administration. It was temporarily discontinued on account of shortage of staff in the various revenue offices; but it is hoped that the Commissioner for Inland Revenue will see his way clear to resume this custom in the near future. In that case, it is recommended that a new system be adbpted, l viz., that the annual detailed returns be made up for the 12 months L! ending August 31st in each year, because all inland fishing licences I· t·

now expire· on that date, in terms of Regulation No. 6 of the Regu­ ) lations of 1942.

.t " -Al:> Honorary Fzshzng Inspectors: Several new appointments were effected by the Commissioner of ~ South African Police on the recommendation of this Administration in 1944. A new departure was the appointment of persons residing in I Natal and· hQ\ding similar Natal Provincial appointments to be Hon. 47

for water analysis and the Fishing Inspectors under the Cape Inland Fisheries Ordinance. This so greatly increased during was done so that they could operate on' both sides of the border made last year, regarding the rivers, on which the Cape trout fishing regulations have been brought ~ution of public .....streams, will into line with those of Natal, except that anglers are required to have the licences of both Provinces if they fish from alternate banks. This applies to the U mtamvuna River in Eastern Pondoland, an~ io the Ngwangwana and N'Dowana Rivers. On the latter, the Natal Pro­ 31.3.44, the total number of vincial Administration purchased the farm "Coleford" in 1944, as Province was 1,212, to the a nature reserve and trout fishing resort, and have full control over ~se in the number of licences the fishing on their side. ding financial years were as Field Work, Surveys and Other Investigations: [lces, value £447. Restrictions on the use of private motor vehicles continued to limit lces, value £476. the field work previously done by the Inland Fisheries Officer, but lces, ·.value £520. he accompanied the Superintendent or Mr. BIommaert on some [lces, value £536. occasions when the transport of the Administration was available. On three days in February, 1944, an opportunity was taken of surveying bought more of the lower­ a private trout stream which is rather remotely situated and has unique ence for bass, the 5s. season characters, and a report was filed for departmental use. Observations, IS fish for women and juve­ which have been carried out for several years, were continued in rout fishing for male adults. connection with the smallmouth bass and other fish in the experimental' sale of 450 trout licences at section of the upper Berg River. Data were also collected, as in the period 1937, 1938, 1939, previous years, relating to certain problems connected with the lower r 1943-44. The introduction Eerste River, the peat-stained waters and Paarde Vlei lake. The )r male adults is expected 'to officials of the Cape Town City Engineers' Department were accom­ lly welcomed by the Inland panied in visits to various waters in which freshwater fishing is being Lct with numerous visitors, developed. The usual service of examining the scales of trout, bass, V or so of trout fishing and etc., for age-determination was continued. The Inland Fisheries lformed that they must pay Officer assisted in the preparation of the exhibits' and in dealing with y that the 3s. 6d. minimum the public at the Liberty Cavalcade in March, 1944;, and took charge enue, as people are inclined of the Jonkershoek Inland Fish Hatchery from April 6th to May an odd day's trout fishing 8th, 1944, during the absence of the Superintendent on duty. s Department is at present ence returns, and the only le whole Cape Province for 1st. It will not be possible ~er and ~o get a clear picture mce until the annual practice ntil detailed returns from all this Administration. It was Jrtage of staff in the various ~ Commissioner for Inland ne this custom in the near at a new system be adtJpted, nade up for the 12 months e al~ inland fishing licences 'ulahon No.6 of the Regu­

ed by the Commissioner of on of this Administration in lent of persons residing in U appointments to be Hon.