Report of the Marine Biologist for the Year 1897 [AND] Report of the Marine Biologist for the Year 1898

"The discovery of a large deep-sea fishing area ... the basis of a great fishing industry"

First volume: 240 x 152 mm; printed side-stitched wrappers; pp. vi + 148; several tables in text; two large, folding charts showing trawling operations of the S S Pieter Faure. Wrappers edgeworn and sunned, with archival tape repairs at spine; library ink stamp, blind-stamp and labels to upper cover; light browning; occasional fox spot. Good.  

Second volume: 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.

The 1897 Report highlights the contribution to South African marine biology and fisheries of John Gilchrist, the enthusiastic scientist appointed to investigate the fishing potential of the Agulhas Bank. In 1897 a small steam trawler, dubbed the Pieter Faure, was delivered from Scotland for Gilchrist’s work. In no time at all, Gilchrist was reporting great hake stocks off Dassen Island, and had discovered the riches of sole east of Cape Agulhas. The highlight of this work, produced for the Department of Agriculture of the Cape colony, is a report, with accompanying maps, on the investigations of the little trawler.  

"The success of the trawling experiments has been greater than was anticipated. Good ground has been found near St. Helena Bay, near Dassen Island, and in False Bay. It was specially desirable that a good fishing area should be found at no great distance, and the ground in False Bay fulfils these requirements. It was soon demonstrated that there was an abundance of fish notwithstanding what had been said to the contrary, and that there was within easy reach of Cape Town an excellent trawling ground, rivalling the North Sea in productiveness."

The following year's report would remove any doubt that there was also, within reach, a "regular deep-sea fishing ground for trawling." The 1898 Report, 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.'