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Gilchrist, J. D. F : Report of the Marine Biologist for the Year 1898

(Cape Town: W. A. Richards & Sons, Government Printers, 1899)

8vo; black cloth over boards, re-backed in black rexine; lettered in gilt on spine and upper cover; speckled edges; pp. (iv) + 362; tables in text; plate and several coastal charts, incl. folding. Cloth rather fishmothed; particularly to edges; regular browning throughout; a little spotting. Fair to good. Uncommon. This work, produced for the Department of Agriculture of the Cape colony, commences with a journal detailing the investigations of the government trawler 'Pieter Faure' between January 5 and December 31, 1898, between Simonstown and East London. This is followed by observations and statistics relating to marine life from along the coastline, information on inland fisheries, and the 'Report of the Select Committee on the Fishing Industry.' 'The outstanding feature of the year's work is the discovery of a large deep-sea fishing area near Mossel Bay, being a part of the great Agulhas Bank. In last year's Report an account was given of the discovery of certain rich fishing grounds, and it was demonstrated that, in spite of statements to the contrary, there was within easy reach of Cape Town an excellent trawling ground. But it was also pointed out that, "after careful examination, we have found no regular deep-sea fishing ground for trawling." This has at last been discovered, and may be the basis of a great fishing industry. Over one thousand square miles of this ground have been examined carefully, and we can now confidently assert that there is here a great source of wealth and food supply for the Colony. This discovery has only been made possible by the employment of a vessel of suitable strength and equipment and of a crew well acquainted with the work, and the result has more than justified the expenditure incurred.'

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