CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Fish and fisheries of New South Wales. TTT FRONTISPIECE, AN “OLD MAN SCHNAPPER.”—cCtv. & Van. (Pagrus unicolor.) FISH AND FISHERIES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS, F.L.S., F.G.8., &., &., Vicz-PRESIDENT. OF THE LINNEAN Society, New SourH WaALes. AUTHOR or ‘“‘A History of THe DiscOVERY AND EXPLORATION OF AUSTRALIA,” ‘©GEOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA,” yo 2 “Nort AUSTRALIA,” ‘¢NaTURAL History or New Sours WALES,” &e., & SYDNEY : THOMAS RICHARDS, GOVERNMENT PRINTER. 12a 56-82 1882, PREFACE. Tats work has been undertaken with a twofold object. The first is to give a popular account of our useful Fishes to the colonists, together with all that relates to pisciculture and acclimatization, with a view to promote a development of our fish resources. To make it more useful in its educational character, a simple explanation of the science of the subject is prefixed. The second object is to give an account of our Fish and Fisheries, such as will..be required for the great Fish Exhibition of 1883. With this view, all that relates to our laws, markets, and our fisheries generally is given. Finally, the work is meant to be simple and practical, so that not a word in it may be above the comprehension of those not specially trained to scientific phraseology. Though in places necessarily a little technical, it is hoped that on the whole it will be found readable, and sufficient to give to inquirers all the knowledge they require about the Fisheries of New South Wales. I take this opportunity of thanking the Hon. W. Macleay, F.L.S., and Alex. Oliver, Esq., for valuable assistance in revising these pages, and also Prof. M‘Coy, F.R.S., for permission to use some of the plates of his work on the Zoology of Victoria. CONTENTS. DEDICATION... oe ie ee aes va ays PREFACE ats a es oa List or PLAtTEs GLossaRy CHAPTER L INTRODUCTION iss sta a eas II. Tue Fish Fauna or New Souta WALES Ifi.. Our Marine Foop Fisues IV. Swarxs V. Rays VI. Our Fresu-water Foop FisHEs VIE. Ovystzir FisHEeRies VIII. Orner Mottuvsca ... IX. Crusvacua ... ies set X. FisHine-crounps or New Souta WALES XI. Tue Fish Marxet XII. Tue DEVELOPMENT OF OUR FISHERIES XIII. AccLiMaTIZATION AND PISCICULTURE ... XIV. Fisuery Laws anp RecuLations XV. Inpex or Locat Namgs... XVI. Works RELATING TO FIsH AND FISHERIES ... INDEX ... sins wn me wis ae oes PAGE. iii vil ix 10 30 92 99 . 102 . 110 ow 122 . 125 . 128 . 139 . 143 - 150 - 160 .. 182 » 194 .. 205 PLATE. Frontispiece. I. II. III. Iv. Vv. VIL VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX, XX. XXII. XXII. XXII. XXIV. XXV. XXVI. XXVIL XXVIII. XXIX. XXX. XXXI. XXXIL XXXIL XXXIV. LIST OF PLATES. PAGE. ‘*Old Man” Schnapper. The Perch. ates colonorum ee +» described at 31 The Old Wife. Hnoplosus armatus ... dee 3 32 Longfin. Anthias longimanus Sg sis ” 33 Wirrah. Plectropoma ocellatum ... tats ee 34 Australian Salmon. Arripis salar sis 5 35 Sweep. Scorpis aquipennis ... out dee e 37 Black-fish. Girella tricuspidata . ... vex a 39 Schnapper. Pagrus unicolor... wes es as 39 Tarwhine. Chrysophrys australis ... ... ¥ 42 Morwong. Chilodactylus macropterus Sa 5 46 Red Morwong. Chilodactylus fuscus ses +3 46 Red Rock Cod. Scorpena cardinalis a 55 47 Banded Morwong. Chilodactylus vittatus ... 35 47 Gurnard Perch. Sebastes percoides ... ihe am 48 Nannygai. Beryx affinis’ ... 25 aa i 51 Jew-fish. Sciena antartica ... eee me 33 53 Teraglin. Otelithus otelodus .... ... sn a 54 Yellow-tail. Trachurus declivis ... ane 3 58 King-fish. Seriola lalandii ... t, sea 2 59 Tailor. Temnodon saltator ... rie bes 3 60 John Dory. Zeus australis ... is we 3 61 Horse Mackerel. Trachurustrachurus ... 45 58 Whiting and Beardie. Sillago maculata and ' Lotella marginata ae hate cae Ss 65 Northern Whiting. Sillago ciliata ... as 5 65 Flathead. Platycephalus fuscus aie + 67 Gurnard and Sergeant Baker. Trigla kumu and Aulopus purpurissatus sas mes mr 68 Flying Gurnet. Trigla polyommaia... Sat 33 68 Pike. Sphyrena obtusata ... wes one x 69 Sea Pike. Lanioperca mordax ‘fe ae 33 69 Sea Mullet. Mugil grandis ... per se 3 61 Blue Groper. Cossyphus gouldii a its 74 Pig-fish. Cossyphus unimaculatus ... oe i 75 Flounder. Pseudorhombus russellii ... ere i 76 Sole. Synaptura nigra... 0 ue aes a 77 viii LIST OF PLATES. PLATE. PAGE. XXXV, Sergeant Baker. Aulopus purpurissatus ... described at 82 XXXVI. Long Tom. Belone jferox eis ‘ies ae 5 83 XXXVII. Garfish and River Garfish. Hemirhamphus inter- medius and H. regularis ... ss ot os 84 XXXVIII. River Garfish. Hemirhamphus penis ae 99 84 XXXIX. The Eel. Anguilla australis ... “gis sai ee 88 XL. Leather-jacket. Monacanthus ayraudi dois 35 89 XLI. Murray Cod. Oligorus macquariensis ... side > 102 XLIT. Sea Crab. Neptunus pelagicus ... ang ad si 125 XLII. Cray-fish. Palinurus hugelii ... ale ss ob 125 XLIV. Freshwater Cray-fish. Astacopsis serratus ... 3 126 XLV. Bat-fish. Psettus argenteus ... 7 61 9 A wood engraving of heads of Salmo, with a sa es GLOSSARY. Acuminate.—Tapering to a point. Adipose—Fatty matter throughout the tissue. Armature.—A prickle or bony point. Axil.—Literally the armpit ; the inner angle at the base of a fin or spine. Basibranchials.—Small bones uniting the branchial arches below. Branchial,—Relating to the gill. Branchie.— Gills. Branchial arches.—Plates which bear the gills. In the Perch they are five, four bearing gills; the fifth dwarfed, and bearing teeth called lower pharyngeal bone. The arches are divided into movable portions dilated and confluent above, beset with fine teeth, and called the upper pharyngeal bones. Branchiostegals.—The margin of the gill-cover has a skinny fringe to close it more efiectually ; this fringe is supported by one or many bony rays called branchiostegals. Bifurcated.—Forked. Bumbora.—aA sunken rock or reef covered at low-water. Canines.—Larger projecting teeth like dog teeth. Ceratobranchials.—The middle segments of the branchial arches. Coecal.—Blind, or closed sac, not perforate. Confiuent.— When separate parts become united so as to lose their distiuctness they-are said to be confluent. Cran.—A barrel of herrings. Deciduous.—Easily falling away. Denticulate—Finely toothed. Dun.—Broken dried cod-fish. Emarginate.—Notched or cut out at the edge. Epibranchials.—The upper segment of the branchial arch. Ethmoid.—aA cartilage, thickest above the vomer, which extends as a narrow atripe along the bony partition between the eyes. The nerves of smell (olfactory) run along and through the Ethmoid. Falcate.—Crescent-shaped or bent like a reaping-hook. Filament.—A thread-like membrane. Finlets.—Small fins, such as those along the tail of the mackerel. Follicles.—Small leaf-like bags or cavities. Gibbous.—Swollen or humped at some part. of the surface. Grilse.—Young salmon that have never spawned. Hill or To Hill.—Sand- -heaps formed by Salmon for the ova. Hence the expres- sion “to hill,” for spawning time. The sand-heap is also called a ridd. Humeral.—Belonging to the shoulder. Hyaline—An extremely clear, transparent membrane. Hyoid.—tThe arch which encloses the branchial apparatus. Hypobranchial.—The lowest segment of the branchial arch absent from the fourth arch. Imbricate.— Laid over each other like tiles: Incisors.—Front cutting-teeth in fishes. Kelt,—Salmon exhausted, and often covered with parasites after spawning-time. c x GLOSSARY. Klipfish.—Dried cod. Lamell2.—Thin plates. Laminate.—Divided into thin plates. Lateral.—Pertaining to the side ; refers especially to the line along the sides of some fishes called the lateral line. Littoral.—Belonging to the shore. Maise or Maese.—A measure of 500 herrings. Maxillary.—The front margin of the upper jaw formed by the intermaxillary or premaxillary bone which in most fishes bears teeth. It is spread into a flat, triangular projection, on which leans the second bone of the upper jaw—the maxillary. Mesially.—Mesial ; a supposed divisional, perpendicular, longitudinal line, dividing the fish into two halves. : Muciferous.—Mucous system, having special reference to the lateral line, the scales of which are perforated and exude an oily lubricating fluid. Nancy.—A trade term for 40 lobsters. Occiput.—The hinder part of the head or skull. Offal.—tTrade term for Haddock, Plaice, and Whiting. Olfactory.—Relating to the organs of smell. Operculum.—Gill-cover. Orbit.—The eye socket. Osseous.—Bony tissue. Ossicles.—Small bones. Palatine—Relating to the palate bones. The palate properly consists of three bones—l. The Enteropterygoid, an oblong thin bone’ attached to the inner border of the palatine and pterygoid, and increasing the surface of the bony roof of the mouth. 2. The Pterygoid or transverse bone joined by suture to the. 3. Palatine, which is generally toothed and joined to the yvomer. Parr.—tThe first stage of young salmon. Partan.—A Scotch provincial name for the common edible British crab, Cancer pagurus. Pelagic,—Inhabiting the open ocean, Pharynx.—The gullet. Pharyngeal.—See “ Branchial arches.” Pink.—Another name for smolt. Plicate.—In folds or ridges, or plaits, Preoperculum.—A bone with » free‘margin on the operculum, Prime.—Sole, Turbot, Brill, and Cod, trade term. Pseudo-branchiz.—False gills. In the young stage of many fishes they breathe by a gill which becomes subsequently disused. It remains in the form of a fifth or false gill in front of the others, but not in all fishes. Putt or Putcher.—Wicker-basket nets. Rudd, Ridd, or Redd.—Male salmon, and the nest. Scutes.—Small bony plates replacing scales, Segment.—A division or joint. Septum.—< partition. Serrated.— Toothed like a saw. Setiform.—Shaped like a bristle. Shotten.—A female fish from which the roe is just discharged. Skegger.—Young salmon. Slat. See Kelt. Smolt.—Young salmon in the very young state after the “Parr” stage, when they assume scales and lose the transverse markings, Spinous.—Thorny or with bony spines, GLOSSARY. Xl Strikes.—Salmon that have spawned. Suture.—Seam or division. Truncate.—Ending abruptly, as if eut off. Trunk,—The body of the fish, including sides, belly, and back. Villi—Minute velvety projections. : Villiform.—Very fine or minute conical teeth, arranged in a band. Vitreous.—Glassy, clear. Vittate.—Striped.. Vomer.—The thin bone dividing the nostrils, the base of which is often armed with teeth. Xiphoid.—Shaped like a sword. Zonate.—With zones or bands of colour. Any terms not found here are explained in the context where they are used. Fish and Fisheries of New South Wales, CHAPTER I. Introduction. THE fisheries of this Colony have recently attracted much attention; they have become an industry increasing each year in extent and value, but it is only within a year or so that anything definite has been known about them. One or two private individuals have interested themselves, but, until the Royal Commission on the Fisheries of New South Wales in 1880, any reliable and systematic information was not within the reach of the public. Now that the defect has been remedied it is proposed to give a popular account of our fish and fisheries, for the benefit of the colonists generally or those interested in the subject else- where. As far as the facts are concerned nothing would be better than the Blue Book published by the Commission, containing the report, the minutes of evidence, and the valuable appendices. The report especially is admirable in every way, and abundant use will be made of it in this essay ; but something more is requisite to make the scientific side of the subject a little more accessible. We have popular manuals of botany and geology, in which the technical terms in use are carefully explained and made familiar. The terms in both these sciences are numerous and perplexing ; it is not so with the science of fishes, or as it is called Ichthyology. The teclinicalities are few and easily understood, and when they are so understood the scientific manuals on the subject will be open to all. By this means every fisherman of ordinary education will be able to get the scientific name of any species he may find. This would seem but a small gain, but when it is known that under this name can be found all that science has recorded about the fish, its uses, habits, structure, anatomy, and its place in nature, the gain of knowledge is great. Fishermen no doubt have their own names, and in a rough way apply their experience ; but this has no acknowledged record or defini- tion, and the local name of a species here may be applied to a totally different fish elsewhere. All the facts of experience may easily become misapplied through a name which thus becomes a source of confusion instead of knowledge ; but with a recognized name it is hardly possible that an intelligent fisherman will not be largely benefited by the scientific researches of others. It is not now as it was a few years ago, when such a thing as a scientific catalogue of fishes was not to be found, and even the incomplete works on the subject were enormously expen- sive and quite out of the reach of persons of ordinary means. Since Dr. Gtinther published his great Catalogue of Fishes the subject has been placed within the reach of all, There are many copies of this A 2 NEW SOUTH WALES work in the Colony, both in public institutions and in private libraries. Besides this, the Hon. W. Macleay has published a complete Catalogue of Australian Fishes, and thus all that science has done can be easily: and thoroughly known. This catalogue adds more than 600 to the number of known Australian species, which is now about 1,150. It is not intended in this essay to give a detailed description of all our fishes, but merely figures and descriptions of the more common ones, or those useful kinds which employ the industry of our fishermen and fill our markets. Such information will be added as to the habits and mode of capture as will be useful either to the professional fisher- man or the sportsman. All that is known of our fishing-grounds will be given too. This, with any knowledge that we have of the economical uses of our fishes, with our fishing laws, and all the statistics available, will it is hoped make this essay a complete handbook of our New South Wales Fisheries. Lhterature.—First of all it may be useful to state what has been hitherto done in this direction. In 1870 Mr. Alex. Oliver published, in the “Industrial Progress of the Colony,” a paper on the Fisheries of New South Wales. In 1874 the late Mr. Edward Smith Hill wrote a series of fourteen articles for the Sydney Mail, entitled “ Fishes of and Fishing in New South Wales.” These are most interesting and valuable, and will be often referred to in this essay. In 1877 there was an Oyster Commission appointed for N. 8. Wales, which published a report. Besides these works and the Report of 1880 already referred to, there are the special writings on the subject of Australian Fishes by Count F. de Castelnau, published either in the Journal of the Linnean Society of New South Wales or in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of Victoria for 1872 and 1873. Therc were also two scarcely less valuable or extensive essays published in the official reports of the Victorian Intercolonial Exhibitions for 1873 and 1876. The work of the Hon. W. Macleay has been already referred to; but it may be mentioned that, though appearing first in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, it was also published separately in two volumes for private circulation. Finally, there is an edition of the new Fisheries Act by A. Oliver. No other original writers need be men- tioned, because the works of Cuvier and Valenciennes, Sir John Richard- son, and Dr. Giinther have no special reference to Australia, and the Australian fishes described in them occur casually. It is necessary to state, however, that no complete knowledge of any species can be obtained without reference to the great Catalogue of Fishes by Dr. A. O. L. G. Ginther, F.R.S., published in eight volumes by the Trustees of the British Museum, or the same author’s work on the Study of Fishes, which is an augmented reprint of his article on Ichthyology in the ninth edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica. Definition.—It will be necessary first of all to state what is a fish. Some readers will be surprised, if not amused, at such an idea. As if everybody did not know what a fish is, Yet a ‘fish has peculiarities which very few know, therefore a valuable increase to our knowledge will be gained by the definition. A fish is a vertebrate animal living in water, and breathing water by means of gills, It has cold red blood, but circulated by means of a heart with only two chambers, a ventricle and an anti-chamber or auricle or bulb. The limbs when FISH AND FISHERIES. 3 present are fins, either in pairs along the sides or in a single line above and below. The skin is either (1) naked, (2) covered with scales, (3) with bony plates, (4) or bony armour. With few exceptions fishes propagate their species by means of eggs, and are hence called oviparous. Before proceeding to an explanation of the terms necessary to under- stand scientific books about fishes, it may be well to refer to a plan for their classification which is useful to remember. M. Louis Agassiz proposed to arrange all fishes into four great classes according to the structure of the scales or bony covering. Thus there were 1. Puacoips: Without proper scales, but instead plates of enamel either large or reduced to mere points: Sharks, Rays, &c. 2. Ganorps :—Scales angular, bony below, enamelled above. There are few living species of these, but there were many in former times. Our Australian Ceratodus is one, and the Sturgeon is another. 3. Crenorps :—Scales rough with comb-like teeth at their free margins, such as in Perch, Soles. 4. Cyciorps :—Scales smooth without teeth at the hind margin: Salmon, Mullet, Herring, Cod, &c. This classification is not adopted now, but it is found useful in many ways in determining the zoological character of a fish, and is moreover easily borne in mind. A more elaborate system of classification, and one generally adopted, is that of Giinther, which divides the class Fishes into four sub-classes. ]. Patzicutuyes: Sharks, Ganoids, and Rays. 2. Tsxzoste1, which includes the majority of fishes. 3. Cycnostomata : Lampreys and a few other rare genera. 4. Leprocarpii. These divisions are more natural than any others, but they are founded on minute details of anatomy which require special knowledge to determine. Thus, PAL@ICHTHYES are fishes with a contractile auricle to the heart ; intestine with a spiral valve ; optic nerves not crossing. 2. TELEostet :—Fishes with an auricle which does not contract, intestine not spiral, optic nerves not crossing. Skeleton composed of bone, with vertebre separated completely. 3. Cyctostoma :—No auricle to the heart, intestine simple. Skeleton of cartilage instead of bone. Only one nasal aperture. No jaws, but the mouth surrounded by a circular lip. 4. Leprocarpi :—Heart reduced to mere pulsating sinuses in the great artery. Intestine simple. Skele- ton partly cartilaginous and partly membranaceous. No skull and no brain. We need not occupy ourselves with the two last orders, as CycLosto- MATA, or Lampreys and Myxines, only include five genera and not a dozen species, while the Lrprocarpil, or ,Lancelets, though distributed all over the world, have not more than two species. By many it is not considered a fish at all, but a separate class called Acranta, or headless. Thus according to this system there is little more than a division into —1. fishes with a skeleton of bone, and 2. fishes with a skeleton of cartilage. Before passing to the sub-divisions of these sub-classes it will be well to explain certain anatomical distinctions. Few fishermen will be able to trace them, but to understand them is easily effected and will give great insight into the physiology of fishes. All fishes (if we exclude the Lancelets) have red ‘blood, and are pro- vided with a complete circulation for the body, another for the gills, and a third for the liver. But fishes differ from other animals in this, that the heart is relatively small, and is provided with only two chambers, © 4, NEW SOUTH WALES which send the blood on from the veins direct to the gills, Thus all the veins ultimately discharge their contents into a large chamber of the heart (atriwm*), whence the blood passes by the pulsation of the ventricle into the cone or auricle. Valves here prevent its return. The cone or bulb of the auricle is prolonged into the gill artery, where it soon divides, sending off a branch to each of the gill arches. After being well revived by the oxygen of the water, the blood returns from the gills, some to arteries where a portion is sent off to different parts of the head and heart, but the main trunk unites to form a great artery which carries blood to all parts of the muscles, intestines, and tail, In the great majority of fishes it is only the ventricle which contracts. In sharks, rays, &c. (Paleichthyes) the auricle also beats or pulsates, It is in- teresting to study the hearts of fishes, from which much can be learned. Its simple structure is one that can be easily understood. In the anterior part will be found the atriwm with a large sinus venosus} or groove, into which all the veins enter, then the ventricle, and then a conical hollow swelling at the beginning of the arterial system. In all the sharks and rays this swelling is still a division of the pulsating heart. It has a thick muscular layer, but is not separated from the ventricle by two valves (like the heart of warm-blooded animals) opposite to each other, yet its interior is provided with many valves arranged in a transverse series. In Cyclostomata and Teleosteans the enlargement is a swelling of the artery without a muscular thickening, and it does not pulsate. The reference made to the crossing of the optic nerves is worthy of particular notice. The optic nerves of fishes take their rise from the optic lobes of the brain. In the Cyclostomata they go straight to the eye each on its own side. In the Teleosteans they simply cross each other so that each optic nerve supplies the eye on the other side of the brain. In sharks and rays the optic nerves unite after leaving the brain and become merged into one. This compound nerve is cylindrical for a time, but soon flattens out like a plaited band which can be separated and expanded. The blood, as already explained, is carried to the gills. These are the lungs of fishes, only lungs are organs especially designed to breathe air, while gills breathe water. Both, however, are for the same purpose, that is, renewing the blood by the oxygen which both air and water con- tain, while at the same time it parts with certain elements which it has removed from the system. In gills this is effected between what are called the branchial arches. They are usually five in number, of which four bear gills, while the fifth remains dwarfed. The gills are fine lamelle covered with mucous membrane, every one of which is supplied with a small twig from the branchial artery. This is subdivided into the finest branchlets, and their termination being very near the surface is what gives the red colour to the gills. The water washing over these surfaces while the blood is moved along by the heart, brings every portion in succession within reach of the oxygen which igs rapidly absorbed. On the inner side of the gills there are sets of organs called gill-rakers, which act as a sieve to prevent particles of solid matter * Latin for court or hall, ¢ Latin for vein-cavity, or fold. FISH AND FISHERIES. 5 from passing over the gills. The above account will generally describe the gills of Teleosteans, The sharks and rays have a different arrange- ment. There are certain other fishes in which the gills are so peculiar, such as some Siluride, Labyrinthici, &., that larger works on Ichthyology must be consulted concerning them. Another organ to which attention must be paid is the air-bladder. This is a hollow sac of very varying shape. It is situated in the abdo- men, but not within the same sac with the intestines. It is either entirely closed or communicates by a duct with the latter. It is full of gas, not air, and curiously enough the nature of the gas differs in fresh-water fishes and those of the ocean. In the former case the gas is principally nitrogen ; in the latter, especially in deep-sea fishes, it is oxygen which predominates. In some fishes the air-bladder assumes the character of a lung ; in the Leptocardii, Cyclostomi, Chondropterygit and . Holocephali, it is wanting : in the others its office is supposed to be useful in altering by compression the specific gravity, and either to change the fish’s centre of gravity or enable it to sink and float at will. The shape of the intestinal tract in fishes is subject to all sorts of variations, Asa rule it is shorter in carnivorous fishes and longer in vegetable feeders. It is often uniform throughout, so that the different portions of stomach, esophagus, intestine, and rectum cannot be distin- guished. But this is rarely the case in Teleosteans. There are two forms of stomach common. One is the siphonal, in which the organ is bent intotwo portions ; the other is the cecal, in which one end is prolonged into a long descending blind sac. Besides this there are commonly among Teleosteans a number of hollow worm-like appendages, varying in numbers in different species from two or three to 200; they open into the intestine at the pyloric* orifice of the stomach, and are called pyloric appendages. They are much used as distinguishing marks between one species and another. Fishes have liver, spleen, pancreas, and intestines variously modified. The liver is mainly distinguished for the quantity of oil which it con- tains. Details about these organs are not within the purpose of this work; they are, however, of especial interest to those who wish to pursue the subject. Gitinther’s work on the “Study of Fishes” is recommended for the purpose. What has been already given will be sufficient for all the purposes of classification.+ Ifany intelligent fisherman will take one of the fishes daily met with and examine it so as to see for himself the organs here referred to, he will learn practically what he is taught by reading, and it will effectually be impressed upon his mind. The skeleton next claims our attention, as it forms a great mark of distinction between the two great sub-classes, Teleosteans and Sharks, &c. The latter were called Chondropterygians, on account of the exclusively cartilaginous character of their bones. But there is great diversity in this, for while some have scarcely a consolidated cartilage, others present almost every degree of ossification. In some the vetebre can be hardl distinguished from one another, in others they are well defined and * Greek—Pule, a gate—the lower opening of the stomach leading to the intestines. + Those who require the meanings of such terms as pancreas, spleen, &c., or the nature of the organs themselves, can learn all from the shilling manuals of physi- ology, published by M‘Millan, Collins, and others. 6 NEW SOUTH WALES complete. In nearly all the Palwichthyes there is a peculiar arrange- ment for the termination of the tail, which is called heterocercal. The vertebree are continued into the upper lobe of the tail, which makes it unsymmetrical. Inv Teleostean the caudal fin is more or less symmetrical on each side of the end of the vertebre. This is called homocercal. In this the caudal fin appears to be centred on the last vertebra, which coalesces with a flat bony plate, the hypural bone, on the flat margin of which the fin rays are placed. The cartilaginous skeleton of the Paleichthyes is peculiar in leaving no sutures in the skull, which is always formed of a single piece, but in which we can distinguish, by means of the projections, grooves, hollows and holes, certain regions which are analogous to the bones in the skulls of other fishes. Again, parts of the vertebre in certain rays are united into a single body. The gelatinous substance which in other fishes fills the intervals of the vertebre and communicates from one to the other only by a small hole, forms in several Chondropterygti a cord (notochord) which runs through all the bodies of the vertebra, almost without varying in diameter. As already stated, most of these details will be useless to the ordinary observer for the purposes of classification. | Other portions of the body of a fish must be relied upon. The chief of these are the fins. *They are supposed to correspond to the limbs of other vertebrate animals, Those corresponding with the fore limbs are said to be pectoral, and those which correspond to the hind limbs are called ventral. Vertical fins on the back are said to be dorsal, and similar fins underneath, in a line with the axis of the body and near the vent, are called anal. The tail fin is called the caudal. Any of these may be present or absent; sometimes they are highly developed and extend a great length, or again may be a mere fold in the skin; thus the dorsal fin may extend from the head to the vent, joining the anal and caudal in one continuous line. Many important differences are perceived in the dorsal fin on which systems of classification are founded. The rays which support it may contain spines of bone, or they may be all soft and jointed. The fishes with spinous rayed dorsal fins comprise an immense order called the Acanthopterygii or spiny fins. The soft-rayed are called Malacop- terygians. These spines can nearly always be erected or depressed at the will of the fish. If, when depressed, they cover each other com- pletely so that their points all lie in the same line they are called homocanth ; but if they are unsymmetrical, that is alternately broader on one side than on the other, they are called heterocanth. The anal fin may be divided into one or more fins, or be absent. In Acanthop- terygians its foremost rays are frequently spinous. It must be borne in mind also that though the fore and hind limbs are represented by fins in fishes, yet in most cases they are close together and generally near the head. The pectorals or fore limbs with their bony supports are always fixed immediately behind the gill-opening, The ventrals are subject to much variation in position, and formerly were used by zoologists to distinguish large families of fishes by their position, "When inserted behind the pectorals on the abdominal surface, the fishes were grouped into one order under the old Linnean arrange- ment, called Abdominales, This included salmon, silurus, pike, FISH AND FISHERIES. 7 mullet, herring, pipe-fish, When the ventral fins were situated on the breast or nearly under the pectorals, they formed an order called Thoraciet or breast-fish, including dolphins, goby, dory, sole, wrasse, perch, mackerel, gurnard, flying-fish; and if the_ventral fins were situated under the throat the fishes were included in an order called Jugulares or throat-fish, including cod, whiting, hake, blenny. Fish without ventral fins were classed together as Apodes or footless. It will be seen that this arrangement, however convenient in one re- spect, took no notice of the resemblances or differences of fishes in many other respects ; and thus its groups were of the most mixed description. For this reason it was called artificial, because it gave no knowledge of the harmonious plan which prevails throughout nature. But while the position of the fins is of little value in classification, the number of rays or spines in the ventral fins is of the greatest importance in grouping the smaller divisions, and for the determination of species ; moreover the dorsal and anal rays or spines generally correspond to the number of vertebre in a certain portion of the backbone ; they form therefore constant and unvarying characters by which species, genera, and even families may be distinguished. The only exception to this rule is that if the number of ‘spines is very great a proportionately wide margin must be allowed. for variation (Giinther). The number of pectoral or caudal rays is rarely of any importance. A few words more will be necessary to describe certain other parts of fishes which are referred to in systems of classification. The eye is taken as a point for dividing the head into the ante-orbital and post-orbital portions. The organ is proportionately larger in most fishes than in other vertebrates. Fishes with very large eyes are either nocturnal in their habits or live at depths in the ocean to which but little light pene- trates. Where scarcely any light is found the fishes have small-or rudi- mentary eyes, or the eyes are hidden under the skin. Fishes inhabiting muddy places have small eyes. The Hon. W. Macleay has described a fish from North Australia (Polynemus cecus) which has a thick membrane over the eyes, rendering it if not blind at least only capable of perceiving light. It was found at the entrance of muddy rivers. This is not an uncommon feature in the genus Polynemus all of which have long feelers under the pectoral fins to take the place of eyes. The space between the eyes is called the inter-orbital space or fore- head ; that beneath them is called the sub-orbital or infra-orbital. In the ante-orbital space are placed the mouth and nostrils. The mouth is formed by the maxillary or inter-maxillary bones or by the inter-maxil- lary only in the upper jaw, and by the mandibulary bone in the lower. These bones are sometimes bare, but folds of skin, forming lips, are often added. To the jaws are added the only weapons of attack which fishes “have, Sometimes skin appendages called barbels are attached to both jaws, which generally are organs of touch. In most fishes the nostrils are a double opening on each side of the upper surface of the snout; they lead into a shallow groove, and in only one family perforate the palate (the Myxinoids). In sharks and rays they are underneath the snout, and more or less confluent. The gill-cover is called the operculum, but this name is only applied to the hind margin. In most Teleosteans there is a semicircular bone in 8 NEW SOUTH WALES advance of this, with a free margin like a second gill ; this is called the pre-operculum. It varies considerably in shape, often having a toothed edge or spines, and so becomes useful as a feature in classification. The term operculum is, as already said, only applied to the hind margin of the gill-cover, which is divided into movable segments. The under one is called the swb-operculum, and the segment. above is called the inter-oper- culuwm ; they are separate bones. These bones are sometimes rudimen- tary and sometimes absent. All of them are frequently referred to in descriptions of fishes in scientific works. Everyone must have noticed along the sides of most bony fishes a line something like a division between the belly and back. It is sometimes straight, but more often is curved in the most varied manner. This is called the lateral line, and is caused by a series of perforated scales through which mucus is especially secreted, though no doubt all the sur- face of a fish secretes the same fluid to some extent. This perforated line is provided with abundant nerves, and is called the muciferous system. Some fishes have many lateral lines, and our coast and river mullets have none at all. All fishes are of distinct sex. The females in the majority of instances are oviparous. A few bear the young alive; generally the eggs are deposited by the female and are afterwards fertilized by the male. In the males, lying along the intestines, there are two soft bodies called the milt. In certain seasons these contain a milky secretion, which is the fertilizing fluid. This is deposited on the eggs by the male, or merely injected into the water. A very small quantity of this fluid is sufficient for the impregnation of an immense number of ova, and it is owing to this circumstance that the artificial impregnation and hatching of fishes is easily practised and immense numbers of fish preserved. In the same relative position as the milt (soft roe) in the male are found the bodies called the hard roe in the female. This is a mass of unimpregnated eggs. In their young states fishes differ so much from the forms they assume in full growth that they have been very frequently mistaken for distinct species. Though a number of such mistakes have been rectified of late years, there are doubtless still some received species which are only the young of other forms. Until all the stages of growth are known these errors will not be detected. Having now dealt with all the most necessary elements of scientific classification, we can apply them to the general divisions which are made. Let it be premised, however, that those first entering upon this . study must not be disheartened if they find it difficult to identify with certainty some of the details. Though perhaps a little out of place in such a work as this, it may be well to suggest a method by which the details of scientific description may be mastered. Instead of taking an unknown fish and trying to make it out by the aid of a catalogue, such as Giinther’s or Macleay’s, let the student compare a fish, the scientific name of which he is sure of, with the description given of it in these works. When this has been done in the case of ten or a dozen species of different families, the work of identification will be comparatively easy. All who are in reach of the Museum in Sydney, or any of our colonial FISH AND FISHERIES. 9 collections, will find themselves so aided by the named species, that instead of a difficult study the whole process of learning will be a delightful recreation. In the wood-cut. at the end of this chapter, fig. 1 represents—A, the vomerine teeth; B, the palatine; C, teeth on the tongue; D, supra- maxillary ; E, maxillary. These terms will be frequently used. Fig. 2. Gill-cover of Salmo salar. A, pre-operculum; B, opercu- lum ; C, sub-operculum ; D, inter-operculum. Fig. 3. Gill-cover of Salmon trout ; letters the same as above. Fig. 4. Salmo salvelinus. 1, pre-operculum; 2, , operculum; 3, sub-operculum ; 4, inter-operculum; 5, branchiostegal rays; 6, fixed _plates forming immovable posterior margin of the gill-cover ; 7, root of pectoral fin. These figures are adapted from “Freshwater Fishes of Central Europe,” by L. Agassiz, Fie, 1.—Mouth of Trout, Salmo fario. Fic. 2.—Gill cover of Salmo salar, Salmon. Fic. 3.—Ditto of Salmo trutta, Sea-trout. Lower Figure—Salmo, head of Salmo, salvelinus of Central Europe. B 10 NEW SOUTH WALES CHAPTER II. The Fish Fauna of New South Wales. In order to understand the characteristics of the fish fauna of the coasts and rivers, it will be necessary to explain something of the fishes of the Australian region generally. They do not differ in any singular or remarkable degree from the fishes of the rest of the world. If there are one or two apparent exceptions to this, it is in the case of some Australian fishes which have representatives, not living, but in remote periods of the world’s geological history. Such examples are found in the Ceratodus, which inhabits the rivers of Queensland, and the Cestracion, or Port Jackson shark (Heterodontus). The dentition of the last is extremely like fossil teeth of Acrodus, found in mesozoic deposits. Ceratodus isan existing ganoid fish, which is abundantly and almost exclusively represented in the Trias formation. Its anatomy also shows it to be a faint connecting link between a lizard and a fish. Except for such rare instances, the families of Australian fishes are only slightly different from those of other seas. Some are absent and some are very poorly represented, but the great mass of them have relations with these of neighbouring seas or those in which the same conditions of temperature and coast line prevail. There are however minor differences, especially in genera, and these give to Australia whatever distinctive characteristics are possessed by its fish fauna. We find also that these Australian features are more marked on the southern than in the northern coasts. The more remote our coasts are from other lands the more peculiar and distinct are the characters which the coast fishes present, which is just what we might expect. Thus, on the north, north-west, and north-east coasts the fauna is closely connected with that of the Indian and tropical seas, and is in very many species identical with it. The tribes of the colder regions are here wanting and in place we have the fishes of the equatorial zone in all their gorgeous liveries of red, blue, green, and gold, arrayed in those fanciful patterns which awaken the enthusiasm of every naturalist. We find also that as we go southwards on either coast there is a gradual disappearance of the tropical fauna and a mingling of that of the temperate regions. Now if we cast our eyes on the limits of the coasts of New South Wales, we shall find that they lie in regions where the fishes are most likely to be intermediate in character. No part of the Colony is within the tropics, though its northern boundary is not five degrees from the tropic of Capricorn, Again, no part of the Colony abuts upon ‘the south coast, but its southern limits are just at the entrance of Bass’s Straits. Thus it is cut off from the equatorial, and again from the South Australian regions. In such a province we can only expect that what is peculiar in its fish fauna will belong to the Pacific Ocean, and in fact it does possess more of the fishes of that area than any other portion of the coasts of Australia. It may be necessary further to mention that these vemarks apply to the shore fishes only, that is, fishes which inhabit shallow waters in the neighbourhood of land. Pelagic fishes are those which inhabit the surface or uppermost strata of the open sea and only visit the coasts accidentally in search of prey or periodically for the - FISH AND FISHERIES. 11 purpose of spawning. They are not taken into account in this estimate. “They are,” says Giinther, “subject in their distribution to the influences of light and the temperature of the surface water,” but they are independent of the variable local conditions which tie the shore fish to its original home. Deep-sea fishes, or those which inhabit great depths so as not to be influenced by light and temperature, do not come into our estimate at all. The following are the families of fishes represented more or less numerously in New South Wales, the numbers following being the number of species :— Percide, 50; Squamipinnes, 4; Nandide, 2; Mullide, 3; Spa- ride, 14 ; Cirrhitide, 6 ; Scorpenide, 11 ; Teuthidide, 2; Berycide, 3; Kurtide, 2; Polynemide, 2; Scisnide, 2; Xiphiide, 1; Trichiuride, 1; Acronuride, 1; Carangide, 15; Cyttide, 1; Coryphenide, 2; Scombride, 10 ; Trachinide, 5; Batrachide, 1; Pediculati, 4; Cottide, 7; Cataphracti, 1; Gobiide, 15; Blenniide, 17; Sphyrenide, 3; Atherinide, 4; Mugilide, 7; Fistularide, 1; Ophiocephalids#, 1 ; Trachypteride, 1; Pomecentride, 4; Labride, 18; Gadopside, 1; Gadide. 4; Pleuronectide, 9; Siluride, 5; Scopelide, 6; Salmonide, 1; Galaxide, 7; Scombresocide, 6; Clupeide, 12; Chirocentride, 1; Symbrachide, 1; Murenide, 11; Syngnathide, 6; Sclerodermi, 21 ; Gymnodontes, 12; Carcharide, 8; Lamnide, 1; Scyllide, 3; Cestra- ciontide, 2; Spinacide, 1; Rhinide, 1; Pristiophoride, 1; Rhino- batide, 2; Trygonide, 3; Torpedinide, 1; Raitide, 1. Of these 59 families 16 have only 1 species; 8, only 2 species; 5, only 3, and not quite half have more than 3; the largest 50, the next 14, the average about 6. In the above families there are certain genera and species which are peculiar to the southern temperate zone. This of course includes all the coasts of islands and the continent south of the tropics. This zone is characterized by a striking feature, which is visible in the molluscan and other marine kingdoms, and is also to a certain extent in the land fauna and flora. It is the reappearance of genera and species which are common in the northern temperate zone. The species are said by Giin- ther to be Chimera monstrosa, Galeus canis, Acanthias vulgaris, A. blain- villeit, Rhina squatina (Angel Shark), The John Dorey (Zeus aber), Lophius piscatorius, (the Angler-fish) Engraulis encrassicholus, (the: Anchovy), Clupea sprattus (the Sprat), Conger vulgaris (Conger eel), Centriscus scolopax (Trumpet or Bellows fish), found in Tasmania. It must be said however that some of these instances, such as the Sprat and the Anchovy, are of doubtful occurrence, and there are sufficient differences in the John Dorey, and some of the cartilaginous fishes, as to make many regard them as distinct species. Instances of genera the same as in the northern temperate zone are still more abundant, and we have the following on the coast of New South Wales. The Heterodontus, which is found in Japan and Cali- fornia, but also in the tropics (Amboyna), Pristiophorus (saw-sharks, found also in Japan), Raia or thornbacks, Girella (black-fish), Chilo- dactylus (the long-finned sea perches, found also on the coasts of China and Japan), Sebastes (rock-fish), Aploactis, Lotella (rock cod), Aulopus (Sergeant Baker). 12 NEW SOUTH WALES The following genera are peculiar to the South Australian region, though some, here marked in italics, extend to the coasts of New South Wales :—Trygonorhina, Enoplosus, Lanioperca Arripis, Tephreops, Trachichthys, Chironemus, Holoxenus, Nemadactylus, Latris, Glyp- tauchen, Pentaroge, Anema, Craptolus, Kathetostoma, Leptoscopus, Platystethus Brachionichthys, Saccarius, Lepidoblennius, Pateecus, Acanthoclinus, Diplocrepis, Crepidogaster, Trachelochismus N eophry- nichthys, Labrichthys, Oda, Coridodax, Olistherops, Siphonognathus, Pseudophycis, Lophonectes* Brachypleura, Ammotretis, Rhombosolea, Peltorhamphus, Teratorhombus, Rhomboidichthys, Chilobranchus, Nanno- campus, Stigmatophora, Phyllopteryx. Thus out of 44 genera, which are, as far as known, peculiar to the southern portions of the Australian region, New South Wales possesses only 18 of these, numbering in all 23 species. Of these eighteen genera eight extend to N. Zealand, and one, Trachichthys, is found only there and in Tasmania, and one (Leptoscopus) has three species in N. Zealand to our one. The following genera of the equatorial or tropical zone are found on the coasts of N. 8S. Wales:—Anthias 1, Serranus 4, Plectropoma 4, Apogon 2, Gerres 3, Pentapus 2, Chrysophrys 2, Platycephalus 3, Lethrinus 3, Trigla 3, Sillago 2, Sciena 1, Sphyrena 2, Caranx 4, Psettus 1, Teuthis 2, Pempheris 2, Callionymus 3, Batrachus 1, ‘ Petroscirtes 5, Fistutaria 1, Pomacentrus 1, Heliastes 1, Synaptura 2, Elops 1, Chanos 1, Chirocentrus 1, Murenesox 1, Murena 1, Hippo- campus 1, Monocanthus 17, Ostracion 4, Tetrodon 10, Diodon 4, Carcharias 3, Zygena 1, WVotidanus 1, Chiloscyllium 1, Urolophus. All the above thirty genera, including more than 100 species, are- characteristic of the tropics, and seldom seen outside the equatorial zone. There are twenty of the same genera marked in italics which are best represented in the tropics. Thus more than one fourth of the fishes found on the coasts of N. 8. Wales are tropical. We have only at the most about five and twenty of the exclusively Australian fishes, The rest of our fish fauna is made up of fishes wide in their distribution, or which are restricted to one or two other provinces or peculiar to our coasts. From 160 to 170 species have been found in no other parts of Australia-but on the coasts of New South Wales; but no accurate conclusion can be drawn from this, as our coasts have been so very much better searched than those of any other Colony, and there are very many and very extensive parts of the Australian coast line which have never been searched at all. Thus, for instance, we know nothing of the fish fauna of the coast between Adelaide and King George’s Sound, and of the north coast Port Darwin has been the only portion searched, and that far from thoroughly. In a journey I made to the head of the Mitchell I found in some of the tributaries three new species of fresh- water fish, including a Synaptura or sole. This will show what there is still to be done in the watershed of Carpentaria. ‘A good many of the 160 species mentioned above are Indian fishes,— that is found on the Indian Archipelago or on the coasts of the Indian Ocean. It may therefore be fairly inferred that, if they are found on the coasts of N. 8. Wales, they will also be found on the intervening shores of North and North-east Australia when they are searched. * Macleay’s Lophorhombus is a synonym of this genus, FISH AND FISHERIES. 13 Part of our fish fauna is made up from the Pacific region, but this is not so large an ingredient as might be expected. Thus we have not many New Zealand species. Dr. Giinther is the authority for the state- ment that many of the species of the South Australian province and New Zealand coasts are identical. It is certainly not true of the south-east coasts of Australia, with regard to the species, and even the ’ identity of genera is comparatively small, at least of those genera which are characteristic of South Australia or peculiar to its coasts. Of these, as already stated, we have fifteen in N.S.W., only eight of which extend to New Zealand, namely, Trygonorhina, Arripis, Trachichthys, Chironemus, Latris, Leptoscopus, Labrichthys, and Odax. The other genera which we have in common with New Zealand are— Rhinobatus, Raiia, Trygon, Urolophus,Anthias, Haplodactylus, Pagrus, Scorpis, Trachichthys, Chilodactylus, Scorpena, Lepidotrigla, Trigla, Bovichthys, Thyrsites, Zeus, Trachurus, Caranx, Cristiceps, Engraulis, Clupea, Conger, Murenichthys, Syngnathus, Monocanthus, Ostracion, Branchiostoma. This makes thirty-five genera common to the south- east of Australia and New Zealand. Nor can we be surprised at this result, as the distance is great, and a very deep sea intervenes between the two provinces. We have not at present the means of estimating the proportion of species which occur also in other islands of the Pacific, but it must be smaller than the New Zealand element, because of the depth of the sea intervening, and the distance separating New South Wales from’ most of the Pacific Islands. To sum up the results, therefore, we find that in New South Wales the predominating characteristic of the fish fauna of its coasts is the prevalence of genera peculiar to Australia, but which are more common and better represented on the south coast. The species are for the most part peculiar to New South Wales. Secondly, more than one-fourth of the fauna is made up of tropical genera, about half of the species of which are peculiar to the east coast of Australia. But the data are not sufficient to establish this with certainty. We have furthermore a very few local genera and species. Finally, the rest of the fauna is made up of very wide-spread genera and species. A few of these are European, more from the Pacific, more still common to Australia and New Zealand, but the most having a wide range over the Indian oceans and Chinese SeaS, As to our fresh-water fishes, the most of them are peculiar to our rivers, and are not found outside our continent, at least as far as regards the species. A very large proportion belong to the perch family ; and one of the most common, the Murray’ Cod (Oligorus), is not an ex- clusively fresh-water genus, but has marine representatives on our own coasts and on those of New Zealand. Some other genera are peculiar to Australia, such as Ctenolates Murrayia, Macquaria, Riverina ; but they are all true perches, and the generic differences are slight. Therapon is another percoid genus numerously represented in our rivers, but mostly in the tropics, and it is also known in India. ates is also a perch, and is known in India. We have also numbers of the herring family in the fresh-water streams, and several species of cat-fish or Siluride. We have also eels, and a peculiar family called Galawiade, which is known only elsewhere in New Zealand and the extreme portions of South 14 NEW SOUFH WALES America. There isa species in Tasmania (Galawias attenwatus) very closely allied to a Galaxias of New South Wales which is identical with one found in the Falkland Islands and South America. We have also in Australia a very singular southern representative of the salmon tribe in our Grayling, which comes nearest to the genus Coregonus of Europe. This is Prototroctes marena, but it is not found in New South Wales. : All these peculiarities of our river fishes will be specially dealt with in the chapter referring to the fresh-water species. I now append a list of all the species of fish known to occur in New South Wales either in salt or fresh water :— List of Fishes found in the Rivers and on the Coasts of New South Wales. Class FISHES. Sub-class TELEOSTEI. Order AcANTHOPTERYGIL. Division 1. A. PExcirormes. , Family Prrcipm. 1. Lates colonorwm, Giinth. “ Perch.” 2. L. curtus, Cast. 3. L. ramsayi, Macleay. 4, Enoplosus armatus, White. ‘Old Wife.” 5. Anthias longimanus, Giinth. “ Red Perch.” 6. Serranus damelii, Giinth. “ Black Rock Cod.” 7. 8. guttulatus, Macleay. 8. S. undulato-striatus, Peters. 9. 8. heaagonatus, O. & V. 10. Plectropoma annulatum, Giinth. 11. P. semi-cinctum, O. & V. 12. P. susuki, C. & V. 13. P. ocellatwm, Giinth, “ Wirrah.” 14. Genyoroge bengalensis, Bleek. 15. Glaucosoma scapulare, Macleay. 16. Priacanthus macracanthus, CO. & V. 17. P. benmebari, Temm. & Schleg. 18, Ambassis agassizii, Ginth. (rivers). 19. Pseudoambassis castelnaut, Macleay (rivers). 20. P. ramsayi, Macleay. 21. P. jacksoniensis, Macleay. 22. Nannoperca australis, Giinth, (river). 23. WV. riverine, Macleay (rivers). 24, Apogon fasciatus, White. 25, A. guntheri, Cast, 26. Arripis georgianus, CO. & V. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44, 45. 46. 47. 48, 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. . Atypus strigatus, Giinth. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. FISH AND FISHERIES. 15 A, salar, Richards. ‘“ Salmon,” N.S. W. Oligorus macquraiensis, OC. & V. ‘* Murray Cod.” O. mitchelli, Cast. “Cod.” Second species. Ctenolates ambiguus, Richardson, “ Golden Perch,” Rivers. C. chrystyi, Cast. River fishes. C. flavescens, Giinth. ‘3 Murrayia guntheri, Cast. rr M. cyprinoides, Cast. is MM. bramoides, Cast. a M. riverina, Krefft. i Riverina fluviatilis, Cast. . Macquaria australasica, OC. & V. ‘River fishes. Therapon cuvieri, Bleek. ‘ Mado.” 7 T. richardsonii, Cast. “Silver Perch.” _,, T. niger, Cast. 3 T. unicolor, Giinth. 35 Agenor modestus, Cast. Labotes auctorum, Ginth. Gerres ovatus, Giinth. G. subfasciatus, 0. & V. G. argyreus, C. & V. Pentapus setosus, Bleek. P. paradiseus, Giinth. Aphareus roseus, Cast. Family SquaMiPINnNEs. Chetodon strigatus, CO. & V. Chelmo truncatus, Kaer. Scatophagus argus, Linn. S. multifasciatus, Richardson. Scorpis wquipinnis, Richardson. “The Sweep.” Family NanDID&. Plesiops bleekeri, Giinth. Trachinops teniatus, Giinth. Family MvuLup4. Upeneoides vlamingii, OC. & V. Upeneus porosus, OC. & V. U. signatus, Giinth. 16 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84, 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94, NEW SOUTH WALES Family Sparing. Pachymetopon grande, Giinth. Girella tricuspidata, O. & V. G. simplex, Richardson. G. elevata, Macleay. G. cyanea, Macleay. G. ramsayi, Macleay. Haplodactylus lophodon, Giinth. HZ. obscurus, Cast. Lethrinus nematacanthus, Bleek. L. harak, Forsk. L. glyphodon, Ginth. Pagrus unicolor, C. & V. “Schnapper.” Chrysophrys sarba, Forsk. ‘“ Tarwhine.” C. australis, Ginth. “ Black Bream.” Family CrrrHiTipz. Chironemus marmoratus, Giinth. Chilodactylus vittatus, Garrett. C. macropterus, Richardson. “ Morwong.” C. fuscus, Cast. “ Carp.” C. annularis, Cast. Latris ciliaris, Forst. Family ScorPznipz. Sebastes percoides, Richardson. Scorpena cruenta, Richardson. ‘ Red Rock Cod.” S. bynensis, Richardson, S. cordinalis, Richardson. Pterois volitans, Linn. P. zebra, O, & Vv. Centropogon australis, White. C. robustus, Giinth. “ Bull-rout.” Pentaroge marmorata, 0. & V. “Fortescue.” Aploactis milesti, Richardson. Synancidium horridwm, Linn. Family TrvTHipipz. Teuthis javus, Linn. T. nebulosa, Quoy & G. “ Black Trevally.” FISH AND FISHERIES. 17 Division A. Brrycrrormes. Family Berycrpsz. 95. Monocentris japonicus, OC. & V. 96. Trachichthys jacksoniensis, Cast. 97. Beryx afinis, Giinth. “ Nannygai.” Division A. Kurtirormes. Family Kurtipz, 98. Pempherus compressus, White. 99. P. macrolepis, Macleay. Division A. Potynemirormes. Family Potynemipa. 100. Polynemus indicus, Shaw. 101. P. macrochir, Giinth. Division A. Scrmnirormes. Family Scimyipa. 102. Scinena'antarctica, Cast. Jew-Fish.” 103. Otolithus atelodus, Giinth. Teraglin.” Division A. XipHiirorMEs. Family X1pHupsz, 104. Histiophorus gladius, Brouss. Division A. Tricuiurirormes. Family TRICHIURIDE. 105. Vrichiurus hawmela, Bl. Division A. CoTroscomBrirormus. Family AcRonURIDz. 106. Prionurus microlepidotus, Lacep. Family CaraNncipa. 107. Trachurus declivis, 0. & V. ‘ Yellow-tail.” 108. Caranxz nobilis, Macleay. 109. C. georgianus, C. & V. “ White Trevally.” 110. C. hippos, Linn. . 111. C. ciharis, Bl. 112. Seriola lalandui, C. & V. “ King-fish.” 113. 8. nigrofasciata, Rupp. 114. &. grandis, Cast. 115. S. hippos, Giinth. “Samson Fish.” New South Wales. 116. ? Neptomenus travale, Cast. 117. Temnodon saltator, Bl. ‘The Tailor.” 118. Trachynotus ovatus, Linn, 119. 2 baillonii, C. & V. Cc 18 120. 121, 122. 123. 124. 125. 126. 127, 128. 129. 130. 131. 132. 133. 134. 135. 136. 137. 138. 139. 140. 141. 142, 143, 144, 145. 146. NEW SOUTH WALES Psetius argenteus, Linn. “ Bat-fish. Psenes leucurus, Jenyns. Family Cyrrripz. Zeus australis, Richardson. ‘“ John Dory.” Family CoryPHENIDA. Coryphena punctulata, C. & V. Brama raii, Bl. Family Scomprip. Scomber antarcticus, Cast. “ Mackerel.’ Thynnus afinis, Cantor. T. pelamys, Linn. ‘ Bonito.” Pelamys australis, Macleay. Aumis ramsayi, Cast. “ Horse Mackerel,” of Sydney, Cybium commersoni, Giinth. C. guttatum, 0. & V. Naucrates ductor, Linn. “ Pilot Fish.” Hlacate nigra, Bl. “ King Fish,” of West Indies. Echeneis remora, Linn. ‘Sucking Fish.” Family TRacHINIDs. Leptoscopus macropygus, Richardson. Sillago maculata, Quoy & G. “ Whiting.” S. bassensis, C, 6 V. “Trumpeter Whiting.” Bovichthys variegatus, Richardson. Opisthognatus jacksoniensis, Macleay. Family Barracuip™, Batrachus dubiue, White. Family Pepicunatt. Antennarius marmoratus, Less. A, striatus, Shaw. A. pinmiceps, C. & V. A. coccineus, Less & Garn, Family Cortina. Platycephalus bassensis, C. & V. ‘Red Flathead.” P. fuscus, C0. & V. “Flathead.” 147 148. 149, 150. 151. 152. 153. 154. 155. 156. 157. 158. 159. 160. 161. 162. 163. 164. 165. 166. 167. 168. 169. 170. 171. 172. 173. FISH AND FISHERIES. 19 iP; cirronasus, Richards, Lepidotrigla papilio, C. & V.- Lrigla plewracanthica, Richardson. T. kumu, Less & Garn. TZ. polyommata, Richardson. “Flying Gurnet.” Family CaTaPHRACTI. Dactylopierus orientalis, C. & V. Division A. Goxirrormzs, Family Gosia. Gobius bifrenatus, Kner. G. semifrenatus, Macleay. G. buccatus, C. & V. G. flawidus, Macleay. G. ertstatus, Macleay. Eleotris coxvi, Krefft. (River Fish.) E. grandiceps, Kreftt. £. compressus, Krefft. £.,oxycephala, Schleg. £. mastersit, Macleay. Aristeus fluviatilis, Cast. Murrumbidgee River. A. lineatus, Macleay. Callionymus calawropomus, Richardson. C. calcaratus, Macleay.. C. latealis, Macleay. Division A. BuzwnirroRmEs. Family BLennimpz. Blennius unicornis, Cast. B. castaneus, Macleay. Petroscirtes variabilis, Cast. P. anglis, C. & V. P. solorensis, Bleek. LP. fasciolatus, Macleay. 174. P. guttatus, Macleay. 175. 176. 177. 178. 179 180 P. rotundiceps, Macleay. P. cristiceps, Macleay. Lepidoblennius geminatus, Macleay. Cristiceps nasutus, Giinth. . C. fasciatus, Macleay. . C. macleayi, Cast. 20 NEW SOUTH WALES 181. C. aurantiacus, Cast. 182. C. pictus, Macleay. 183. C. argyropleura, Kner. 184. Sticharium dorsale, Giinth. Division A. Muciuirormes. Family SpaoyRanip2. 185. Sphyrena nove-hollandie, Giinth. 186. S. obtusata, 0. & V. “ Pike.” 187. Lanioperca mordax, Giinth. Family ATHERINIDA. 188. Atherina pinguis, Lacep. “ Hardyhead.” 189. Atherinichthys jacksoniana, Quoy & Gaimard. 190. A. duboulayi, Cast. 191. Nematocentris nigrans, Richardson. River fish. Family Mueiuipz. 192. Mugil grandis, Cast. 193. M. dobula, Giinth. 194. M. cephalotus, C. & V. 195. If. peronti, 0. & V. 196. Mf. compressus, Giinth. 197. WV. pettardi, Cast. 198. IM. crenidens, Knor. 199, Myxus elongatus, Giinth. * Family Fistuuaripa. 200. Fistularia serrata, Cuv. Family OpHIocEPHALIDA, 201. Ophiocephalus striatus, Bl. ~ Family TrRacHYPTERIps. 202. Regalecus jacksoniensis, Ramsay. Order I. ACANTHOPTERYGII PHARYNGOGNATHL Family PomacentRips, 203. Pomacentrus dolit, Macleay. 204. Parma microlepis, Giinth. * The other divisions of Acanthopterygians need not be specified. 207. 208, 209. 210. 211. 212. 213. 214. 215. 216. 217. 218, 219. 220. 221, 222, 223. 224. 225. 226. 227. 228. 229. 230. FISH AND FISHERIES. 21 . P. sqyuamipinnis, Giinth. . Heliastes hypsilepis, Giinth. Family Lasripa. Trochocopus wnicolor, Giinth. Cossyphus unimaculatus, Giinth. “ Pig-fish.” C. gouldii, Richardson. “ Blue Groper.” Labrichthys celidota, Forst. L. laticlavius, Richardson. LL. luculenta, Richardson. L. giintheri, Bleek. L. parila, Richardson. L. gymnogenis, Giinth. LL. nigromarginata, Macleay. LL. dorsalis, Macleay. L.. labiosa, Macleay. di melanura, Macleay. Coris lineolata, C. & V. Heteroscarus castelnaui, Macleay. Odax baleatus, 0. & V. “Kelp fish.” O. semifasciatus, 0. & V. “Rock whiting.” O. brunneus, Macleay. Olistherops brunneus, Macleay. Order IIT. ANACANTHINI. Family Gapopsipa&. Gadopsis marmoratus, Richardson. “ Black-fish” of rivers. Family Gapipz. Lotella fuliginosa, Giinth. £. callarias, Ginth. “Cod,” of Melbourne. LL. marginata, Macleay. “ Beardy,” of N.S.W. L. grandis, Ramsay. Family PLEURONECTIDE. . Pseudorhombus russellii, Gray. “Flounder.” . P. multimaculatus, Giinth. . Teratorhombus excisiceps, Macleay. . Rhomboidichthys spiniceps, Macleay. . Solea microcephala, Giinth, . &. macleayana, Ramsay. 22 237. 238. 239. 240. 241. 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250. 251. 252. 253. 254. 255. 256. 257. 258. 259. 260. 261 262. 263 NEW SOUTH WALES Synaptura nigra, Macleay. Plagusia unicolor, Macleay. ‘ Lemon sole,” N.S. W, Order IV. PHYSOSTOMI. Family Sinvuripz. Copidoglanis tandanus, Mitchell. “ Cat-fish,” rivers. Cnidoglanis megastoma, Richardson. “ Sea cat-fish,” N.S.W C. leptwrus, Ginth. Arius thalassinus, Riipp. A, australis, Giinth. Family ScorELipz. Saurus myops, C. & V. Saurida nebulosa, C. & V. S. australis, Cast. S. truculenta, Macleay. Aulopus purpurissatus, Richardson. “Sergeant Baker, N.S. W. Chloropthalmus nigripinnis, Giinth. ” Family SauMonipZ. Retropinna Richardsonii, Gill. Rivers. Family GauaxiIpz. Galamias hrefftii, Ginth. G. scriba, CO. & V. G. punctatus, Giinth. G. couii, Macleay. G. planiceps, Macleay. G. bong-bong, Macleay. | G. nebulosa, Macleay (marine). Rivers. Family Scompresocipa, Belone ferox, Giinth. “Long Tom,” N.S. W. B. gracilis, Macleay. Hemirhamphus intermedius, Cantor. “ Gar-fish,” N.S. W. H. regularis, Giinth. “ River gar-fish,” N.S. W. HT. argenteus, Beun, #, commersonti, O. & V. 264, ‘265. 266. 267, 268. 269. 270. 271. 272. 273. 274, 275, 276. 277. 278. 279. 280. 281. 282. 283. 284. 285. 286. 287. 288. 289. 290. 291. 292. 293. FISH AND FISHERIES. 23 Family Cruperpa. Chatoessus richardsoni, Cast. “ Bony bream,” of N.S.W. Rivers. Clupea sagax, Jenyns. “ Herring,” N.S.W. C. sundaica, Bleek. C. hypelosoma, Bleek. C. moluccensis, Bleek. C. nove-hollandie, ©. & V. C. richmondia, Macleay. Etrumeus jacksomensis, Macleay. Hlops saurus, Linn. Megalops cyprimoides, Brouss. Chanos salmoneus, Bl. Family CHIROCENTRIDE. Chirocentrus dorab, Forsk. Family SymBRaNcHIDz. Chilobranchus rufus, Macleay. Family Murmnipa. Anguilla reinhardtii, Steind. A, australis, Richardson. ‘The Eel.” Conger vulgaris, Cuv. C. labiatus, Cast. “ Conger Eel.” Murcenesox cinereus, Forsk. “Silver Eel,” N.S.W. Myrophis australis, Cast. Murenichthys australis, Macleay. Ophichthys serpens, Linn. Murena undulata, Lacep. M. picta, Bl. M. afra, Bl. “ Green Eel,” N.S. W. Order V. LOPHOBRANCHII. Family SyNGNATHIDE. Syngnathus margaritifer, Peters, S. tigris, Cast. Stigmatophora argus, Richardson. S. nigra, Kamp. Phyllopteryx foliatus, Shaw. Hippocampus nove-hollandic, Steind. 24 4 294, 295. 296. 297. 298. 299. 300. 301. 302. 303. 304. 305. 306. 307. 308. 309. 310. 311. 312. 313. 314. 315. 316. 317. 318. 319. 320. 321. 322. 323. 324, 325. 326, 327, NEW SOUTH WALES Order VI. PLECTOGNATHI. Family ScLERODERMI. Monocanthus hippocrepis, Quoy & G. M. convexirostris, Giinth. M. trachylepis, Giinth. MM. guntheri, Macleay. M. spilomelanurus, Quoy & G. M. maculosus, Richardson. MM. castelnani, Macleay. M. freycineti, Hollard. M. prasinus, Cast. I. margaritifer, Cast. M. megalurus, Richardson. M. granulatus, White. I. rudis, Richardson. UU. ayraudi, Quoy & G. “ Leatherjacket,” N.S. W. MM. trossulus, Richardson. M. oculatus, Giinth. M. macrurus, Macleay. Ostracton concatenatus, Bl. 0. diaphanus, Bl. O. cornutus, Linn. O. lenticularis, Richardson. Family Gymnopontzs. Tetrodon levigatus. T. hypselogenion, Bleek. T. hamilioni, Richardson. Tf. virgatus, Richardson. T. hispidus, Linn. T. formamentum, Schleg. T. lineatus, Bl. T. amabilis, Cast. Diodon hystrix, Linn. D. 9-maculatus, Cuv, Dicotylichthys punctulatas, Kaup. Orthagoriscus mola, Linn. “ Sun-fish,” Sus-Cuass IL—PALYICHTHYES. Order CoonpRopreryell. Family CarncHARIDaZ, Carcharias macloti, Mull & Henle, 328, 329. 330. 331. 332. 333. 334, 335. 336. 337. 338. 339. 340. 341. 342. 343, 344, 345. 346. 347. 348, 349. 350. FISH AND FISHERIES. 25 C. glaucus, Linn. “Blue Shark.” C. gangeticus, Mull & Henle. C. brachyurus, Giinth. ; Galeocerdo raynert, McD & Barr. “ Tiger Shark.” Galeus australis, Macleay. “ School. Shark,” N.S.W, Zygena malleus, Shaw. ‘“ Hammer. Shark.” Mustelus antarcticus, Giinth. Family Lamyipa. Lamna glauca, Mull & Henle. ‘Blue Pointer.” Carcharodon rondeletii, Mull & Henle. “ White Pointer.” Odontaspis americanus, Mitch. “Grey Nurse.” Alopecias vulpes, Linn. ‘“ Thresher.” Family Noripanipz. Notidanus indicus, Cuv. Family ScyLiipz. Scylliwm maculatum, Bl. “ Dog-fish.” Chiloscyllium furvum, Macleay. Crossorhinus barbatus, Linn. ‘ Wobbegong,” N.S. W. Family CusTRAcIoNnTIDz. Heterodontus phillipii, Lacep. AZ. galeatus, Giinth. Family Sprnacipa. Acanthias megalops, Macleay. Family Ruinip2z. Rhina squatina, Linn. “ Angel-fish.”” Family PRrisTloPHORIDA. Pristiophorus cirratus, Latham. Family RuinoBaTip&. Rhinobatus granulatus, Cuv. “ Shovel-nose.” Trygonorhina fasciata, Mull & Henle. “ Fiddler.” Family. ToRPEDINIDA. Hypnos subnigrum, Dumeril. D 26 NEW SOUTH WALES Family Raps. 351. Ratia lamprieri, Richardson. ‘“ Thorn Back.” Family TRYGonIpa. 352. Trygon pastinaca, Linn. “ Sting Ray,” N.S. W. 353, J. tuberculata, Lacep. 354. Urolophus testaceus, Mull & Henle. Family MyLoBatTip. 355. Mylobatis aquila, Linn. 356. UW. australis, Macleay. 357. Ceratoptera alfredi, Krefft. Sus-CLtass LEPTOCARDILI. 358. Branchiostoma Lanceolatum, Pall, or the Lancelet. 359. Chetodon strigatus, Bleek. 360. Periophthalmus australis, Castlenau. 361. Chilodactylus mulhalli, Macleay. All the genera that are of any importance or have an economical value are described at sufficient length in the next chapter ; but in the foregoing list there are a few genera which are represented in Australia by a great number of species. They are not important as articles of food, but as they are so numerous in our seas, and therefore become characteristic of our fish fauna, a more extended notice of them is desirable. Some remarks will also be added on a few of the remarkable and exceptional fishes which are found-on the coasts of New South Wales. Frog-fish. Or Antennarius belonging to the order of Pediculati, a name which expresses the singular foot-like office of the fins, which are more fitted for walking along the bottom than for swimming. To this order belongs Lophius piscatorius or Fishing Frog so well known all over the world. The genus Antennarius, of which we have many species in Australia, is distinguished by a very large head and frog-like body without scales, with - a peculiar tentacle just above the snout. The species are pelagic, mostly tropical, and found crawling on floating sea-weed in mid-ocean. They cannot swim much, so on the coast conceal themselves amid the stones and sea-weed, holding on by their arm-like fins. They are all highly coloured, yet their hues are assimilated to the surrounding medium, so that it is very difficult to distinguish them in the water. All the species have a wide range, and this arises from their living in the open ocean, attached to sea-weed, whence they may be drifted anywhere. As their colour depends much on the medium where they are found, no doubt a good many different names have been applied to the same fish by naturalists, This is the case with our common 4. marmoratus, Less., which has a vocabulary of synonyms all to itself, Probably some of our many specific distinctions will be reduced hereafter to two or three forms. FISH AND FISHERIES. 27 Gobies or Sea Gudgeons. These little carnivorous shore fishes give their name to the order to which they belong. They are easily recognized by the peculiar form of the ventral fins, which are united on each side so as to form a circular funnel-shaped cavity. In one genus (Lepidogaster, not known in Australia) the united rays of the ventral fins form,a flattened round disc like a sucker. The centre of this disc is soft and flexible, so that the fish can use the whole as a sucker, and thus adheres to rocks and stones ‘When attached the heaviest surf will not dislodge them. Hence it is called the sucking-fish or lump fish, but not to be confounded with the Remora, the sucking-fish which adheres to the shark. This belongs to the mackerel tribe, and its sucking disc is on its head. The Gobies are pretty equally distributed all over the temperate and tropical coasts, and over 300 species have been described. They prefer rocky coasts, because with their ventral fins they can adhere firmly to a rough surface and defy the force of the waves. One British species lives, breeds, and dies in one year, being like a plant, an annual. In this species also the adult males have long teeth, while those of the female are very small ones. Perhaps some of our own species have these peculiarities, and this is one of the many fields where the Australian naturalists have a fine, easy, and interesting opportunity for observation. On the confines of the northern boundaries of New South Wales may be seen a very remark- able Goby called the “ Hopping-fish.” The pectoral fins are developed into regular legs, with which the fish hops or leaps along thé mud flats with the greatest rapidity. The eyes are on the top of the head, and ‘very prominent, and moreover they can be thrust very far out of their sockets, and moved independently of one another*, thus the fish can see long distances around, and overtake the small crabs in spite of the long stalks to their optics. This fish is called Periophthalmus australis. Cast. I have not included it in our list, for it is a tropical form, yet it is said to be found on the mud-flats of the Richmond River. Callionymus or “ Dragonets” are also gobies, of which we have three species, all beautifully coloured marine fishes. In almost all the species the mature males have the fin-rays prolonged into filaments, and the fin membranes brightly ornamented. Blennies. We have in Australia a good number of these fishes, which are small littoral forms, abundantly distributed on tropical and temperate coasts of all countries. One of the principal characters of the family is the ventral fin, which instead of being a prominent member, as amongst gobies, is rudimentary or absent, and in any case has never more than four rays. These fins are constantly jugular or in the throat, and either have no function or become prongs, by means of which the fish move rapidly along the bottom. The teeth are prominent, and in the Wolf- fish’ (Anarrhicas lupus), which attains a length of 6 feet, they are really formidable. * This peculiarity they share with many blennies, pipe-fish, and sea-horses Hippocampi). 28 NEW SOUTH WALES Of the genus Blennius we have only two species, but there are six of Petroscirtes, which is a fish without scales, and a long single spinous dorsal fin. The teeth are also a long single'series, with a strong curved canine tooth behind. The gill opening is reduced to a-small slit above ‘the root of the pectoral fin, and the ventrals are curved:organs of two or three strong rays. ‘They are all small species, but ‘look formidable. They frequent the pools of rocks. Cristiceps is another kind of Blenny, of which there are many species in Australia, and six in New South Wales. In this genus there are two dorsal fins, and the ventrals have one long spine, with two or three rays. The gill opening is also wide. One remarkable feature about these fishes, which ‘are often most brilliantly coloured with tints of bright green, violet, purple, yellow, and carmine, is that they bring forth their young alive. The young fishes are admirable objects for seeing the circulation of the blood under the microscope. The Wrasses. Some of our Wrasses or Labride will be described elsewhere, as they are useful as food fishes, but there is one genus, Labrichthys, which is so numerously represented that, though not much caught as food fish, it deserves a special notice. It has the characters of the family, but the body is compressed, covered with large scales, and a more or less pointed snout. The opercles are scaly, and the cheeks more or less so, while the pre-opercle is not serrated, and the lateral line is continuous. The teeth are in a single series, but sometimes an interior line, and génerally a canine tooth behind. There are nine spines and eleven rays in the dorsal fin and three and ten in the anal. The difference between these fishes and the Gropers (Cossyphus) is that the latter have four anterior canine teeth in each jaw. They are all brightly-coloured fish, but not growing to any size. We have no less than twenty-seven species in Australian waters, of which one-third are caught upon our coasts, Scopelide. The family is remarkable for containing fishes which have luminous glands upon them for giving light to their path in the deep. We have none of this genus (Scopelus), but other genera of the family, which have the most awful-looking teeth that a fish can possess. If any one will turn to page 586 of Giinther’s Study of Fishes he will see what is meant, and what kind of an animal this fish must be when 6 feet long. Jt is called Plagyodus ferow, It has been caught off Tasmania, and very probably will be found off our coasts. At page 42 of the same work there is a portrait of another unamiable-looking member of the same family. This is a Sawrus, of which we have one species, and three of Sawrida, a closely allied genus, having a few more teeth. Fortunately they are not large. Sea-horses. This is a name applied to the genus Hippocampus. These strange fishes are known in Europe as well as in Australia, and derive their name from the resemblance of the head and fore-part of the body to FISH AND FISHERIES. 29 that of a horse. They are mostly tropical, and they belong to an order which have the gills laminated, but composed of small rounded lobes attached to the branchial arches. ‘he gill-cover is a large simple plate. One wonderful peculiarity in the genus Hippocampus is that the males carry the eggs in a sac at the base of the tail, opening near the vent. The body is divided into regular rings and transverse ridges, and where these cross each other, the tough, leathery skin has tubercles or points. The tail is square and apparently rigid, but it easily curls up and seizes hold of any object, by means of which it anchors itself. ‘When swimming about the Sea-horse keeps an upright position, but the tail is ready to grasp any object it meets in the water. It quickly entwines in any direction round weeds or other objects, and darts at its prey with great quickness. When the pectoral fins are large and expanded, so as to be like wings, then the Sea-horses are said to belong to another order, Pegasidw, or Flying-horses, of which we have two Species in Australia (Pegasus natans, Moreton Bay and Torres Straits, and P. lancifer in Tasmania), but none in New South Wales. The Phyllopteryx. But of all the curious fishes that ever were seen Phyllopterys is the most extraordinary. It is the ghost of a sea-horse, with its winding- sheet all in ribbons around it; and even as a ghost it seems in the very last: stage of emaciation, literally all skin and grief. The process of development by which this fish attained to such a state must be the most miserable chapter in the history of “natural selection.” If this be the “survival of the fittest,” it is easy to understand what has become of the rest. Natural selection must have inflicted upon the family harder terms than those which were imposed on Count Ugolino by his enemies. There is a good likeness of one species in Gtinther’s Study of Fishes, p. 682. Never did the famishing spectres of the ancient mariner’s experience present such painful spectacles. If these creatures be horses, they must be the lineal descendants of those which were trained to live on nothing, but unfortunately perished ere the experiment had quite concluded. The odd thing about these strange fishes is that their tattered cerements are like in shape and colour to the sea-weed they frequent, so that they hide and feed with safety. Thus the long ends of ribs which seem to poke through the skin to excite our compassion are really “ protective resemblances,” and serve to allure the prey more effectually within reach of these awful ghouls. The Phyllopteryx is therefore, in spite of his rags and emaciation, an impostor, and like many a sturdy human beggar puts on the aspect of misery more effectually to ply his trade. The appendages to the spines are well worth a study. Just as the leaf-insect is imitative of a leaf, and the staff insect of a twig, so here is a fish like a bunch of sea-weed. If this is development, it stopped here only just in time ; one step more and it would have been ‘a bunch of kelp. 30 NEW SOUTH WALES CHAPTER ITI. Our Marine Food Fishes. Tue study of fishes, were it only in an economical point of view, is of the greatest importance and interest. As articles of food, though but one of the uses of fishes, they must even command our attention, yet their value in this respect is hardly appreciated. Fish is known to bea light and easily digested diet, but it is not known that it contains as much proteim as pork, and.consequently 100 Ibs. of fish contains as much nourishment as 200 Ibs. of wheaten bread and 700 Ibs. of potatoes, This encouraging fact may well awaken our interest sufficiently to enable us to get over the following dry technicalities which are a necessary key to the comprehension of the subject. It will be borne in mind that fishes are divided into four sub-classes, viz. :—Teleostet, Paleichthyes, Cyclostomata, and Leptocardii. Each of these sub-classes are divided into orders and sub-orders. Each of the orders are separated into divisions, and these again into families. The families are made up of similar genera, and the genera comprise one or more distinct species. It is very difficult for the mind to grasp these distinctions at once, because their number becomes so'bewildering. It will facilitate the comprehension of these methods if we suppose the class fishes to represent a kingdom ; the sub-classes, the counties; the divisions, the parishes ; the families, the villages or towns; the genera, the houses ; and the residents, the species. Sub-class TELEOSTEI. Heart with a non-contractile arterial bulb, optic nerves crossing, intes- tine without spiral valve, skeleton bony, vertebrae completely formed, tail generally homocercal. This sub-class is divided into six orders :— 1, Acanthopterygii.—Part of the rays of the dorsal, anal, and ventral fins composed of non-articulated spines. The lower pharyngeal bones separate. The air-bladder in the adult without a pneumatic duct. 2. Acanthopterygii pharyngognatht.—The same features as the last, but the pharyngeal bones united. 3. Anacanthini.—Vertical and ventral fins without spinous rays. Ventral fins (if present) jugular or thoracic. Air-bladder (if present) without pneumatic duct, lower pharyngeal separate. 4. Physostomi.—All the fin rays articulated ; only the first of the dorsal and pectoral fins is sometimes ossified. Ventral fins if (present) ee and without spine. Air-bladder (if present) with a pneumatic uct. 5. Lophobranchit.—Gills not laminated, but composed of small rounded lobes attached to the branchial arches. Gill cover reduced to a large simple plate. A dermal skeleton replaces the more or less soft integuments. ‘“HOYsad NVMVaLsny “HINA Q)— "wn10W0J00 sapwT ‘] aLyig FISH AND FISHERIES. 381 6. Plectognathi.—A soft dorsal fin opposite to the anal ; sometimes the elements of a spinous dorsal. Ventral fins none, or reduced to spines. Gills pectinate. Air-bladder without a pneumatic duct. Skin with rough plates or shields, or with spines, or naked. Such a large number of existing fishes are included in the first order that no less than nineteen divisions are made by Dr. Giinther. As, however, only a portion of these are found in Australia, it will be better to proceed at once to the characters of the families, or at least such as New South Wales is interested in. The first which occupies our attention is the family of Percidse or Perches, which is thus characterized :— First Division.—Acanthopterygut.—Perciformes.—Body more or less compressed, elevated, or oblong, but not elongate ;. vent remote from the extremity of the tail, behind the ventral fins if they are present. No prominent anal papille. Dorsal fin or fins occupying greater portion of the back ; spinous dorsal well developed, generally with stiff spines of moderate extent, rather longer than or as long as the soft; the soft anal similar to the soft dorsal, of moderate extent or rather short. Ventrals thoracic, with one spine and four or five rays. These features are shared by ten families, of which five at least are important to the fisheries of New South Wales.* I—Fam. PERCIDE. Scales rarely extending over vertical fins, lateral line generally present, continous from the head to the caudal. All the teeth simple and conical, no barbels. No bony stay for the operculum. This family is very large, and consists of carnivorous fishes, which are distributed all over the world. Fossil genera belonging to Australia are found in European tertiary formations, such as Lates, Dules, Serranus, and it is not improbable that they may be found in this Colony also. One of our commonest fishes is Lates colonorum, Giinth. The genus is distinguished by a compressed body, viliform teeth, teeth on the palatine bones, none on the tongue, no canines. Two dorsal fins, the first with seven or eight, the anal with two spines. Preoperculum with strong spines at the angle of the lower limb, preorbital strongly serrated. : The Perch, (Plate I.) Lates colonorwm, the perch of the colonists, is easily distinguished by its continuous dorsal fin, which according to Macleay should remove it to another genus. The fourth spine in the dorsal fin is the longest, third anal spine a little longer than the second, lateral line slightly curved, Colour silvery, darker on the back. * It must here be mentioned that the arrangement followed in the essay is that of Giinther’s latest work on the Study of Fishes, and differs in the grouping from that adopted by the Blue Book Report of the Commissioners on our Fisheries, The difference, however, is very trifling. 32 NEW SOUTH WALES The perch (Lates colonorum) is really « fresh-water fish, but as it is often brought to the Sydney market from Broken Bay and other salt, water estuaries after freshes in the rivers, we include it among the coast fishes. It is a very delicious fish, but never attains a great size, and is perhaps of more value for the sport it affords to the amateur fisherman than as an article of food.—R.R.C.* The perch affords good sport. to anglers. It loves quiet, shady, and deep holes in the rivers, but when the tide is flowing it may be caught in the stream. It is very voracious. In winter the bait is a small mullet or herring, or better still one of the large grubs that bores into trees. In the early spring months it will take.a moth readily, either sunk or on the surface. The artificial salmon-fly is also a splendid bait for trolling at this time. "When moths get scarce a frog is a good bait at night. It must be fastened so that it can swim, or if dead, must be played on the water to imitate a frog swimming. No perch can resist that bait at night. In summer grasshoppers, especially that known as the “Percher,” a red species, are good bait, but the best is a black house- cricket or an earthworm. This is a very attractive bait, and if the perch are in a pool, the lines are no sooner down than the bait is taken. For the rest of the year a prawn is the best bait, that is when crickets cannot be got. The bait should be atleast 4 feet from the float. In landing the fish great care should be used, as the mouth is weak and is easily torn away. The fishes run from 1] Ib. to 7} Ibs, The largest are caught in the holes of tributary streams rather than in the main river. The Hunter River is much frequented by anglers for this species of Lates. We have eight other species of Lates, two others being found in New South Wales. The perch of the Ganges and other East Indian rivers (L. calcarifer) enters freely into brackish water, and extends to the rivers of Queensland. F. Hamilton, in his Account of the Fishes found in the River Ganges, dc. (Edin., 1822, 2 vols., 4to), says of this fish that the vulgar English of Calcutta call it ‘‘ Cock-up,” and that it is one of the lightest and most esteemed-food brought to table. Salt water specimens 2 feet in length are the best. The Old Wife. (Plate IL) _ The ‘old wife” (Znoplosus armatus, White) is another fish which from its small size is not esteemed nearly so highly as it ought to be. It is a most exquisite fish. It is caught only in the seine net, and never in great quantity, but it is found at all pene both young and adult, in Port Jackson and all the harbours of the coast.—R.R.C. The genus Hnoplosus is distinguished by a much elevated body, the depth being still more increased by high vertical fins, All the teeth are viliform, without canines, and are on the tongue as well as all the palate bones. Two dofsal fins, the first with seven spines. Preoperculum serrated with spinous teeth at the angles. Scales of moderate size. The species of our coast is the only one of the genus known in N. 8. Wales, and it is easily distinguished by the very elevated body, with eight black transverse bands on a whitish ground. * The initials R.R.C. stand for Report of the Royal Commission, which will be constantly referred to. = S3HOMI Gi I] fivig od ‘AsIM G10 SHL “ALIN MQ—'snjousty snsojdousr i " a8 6 et wnt Th wll FISH AND FISHERIES. 33 The Longfin. (Plate III.) Anthias longimanus, Giinth. is a good fish that finds its way to the market occasionally, though probably so rarely that it is not known by any local name. The genus is known by a rather short compressed body, with scales of moderate size. Teeth villiform on all the palatine bones, with small canines in both jaws. One dorsal fin, with generally ten spines, anal fin with three, tail forked. The rays of the fins some- times prolonged. The species figured may be known by its uniform red colour and the great length of the pectoral fins. All the fins are nearly’ covered with scales. There are two other species known in Australian waters, which like all the members of the genus are beautifully coloured, the prevailing tints being pink and yellow. Aristotle says that fishers of sponges called it sacred, because no voracious fishes came to the places which it frequented, and the diver might descend with safety. (G.S.F.*) ’ The Rock Cod. Serranus is a genus with oblong compressed body and small scales. Teeth villiform on the vomer and palatine bones, none on tongue. Very distinct canines in both jaws. One dorsal, mostly nine or eleven short spines, rarely eight, ten, or twelve ; anal fin with three. Pre-operculum serrated behind, and at the angle, but not below. (Giinth.) Thése are commonly called ‘sea perches.” A few enter brackish and even fresh water, one having been found high up the Ganges, but all spawn in the sea. There are very many varieties known, probably 150, but they vary so much that specific distinctions are extremely difficult to define. Many are mostagreeably coloured, with spots, cross-bands, and stripes. These fishes are small, but some reach a length of 3 or 4 feet, and become dangerous to man. Instances of bathers having been attacked by a gigantic species, not uncommon at the Seychelles and Aden, are on record, where death resulted from the injuries received. All the species are eatable (G.S.F.) In New South Wales the best marketable species, S. damelii, Giinth., is distinguished by being of an entire purplish black, with generally a black spot on the base of the tail at the end of the soft dorsal ; end of tail black with a white fringe. In fresh specimens there are faint traces of blue spots; body elongate ; height about a third of length without the caudal fin ; canine teeth very strong ; preoperculum very finely serrated behind ; the central spine of the operculum strong ; scales very small ; dorsal formed of eleven spines, the two first lower than the third, the others becoming rather shorter as they extend backwards, soft parts of fourteen rays rather higher than the spines; caudal fin rounded; anal with three spines, of which the first is shorter and the others almost equal. Extreme size about 3 feet, The genus Serranus comprises most of the fishes known as ‘‘rock cod.” There are many species of it in these seas, and the number increases in the warmer latitudes of the north, but one only is sufficiently useful as an article of food to merit notice, and that is the ‘‘black rock cod” (Serranus damelii, Giinther), without exception the very best of all our fishes. Itis found on all the rocky parts of the coast, and in the harbours about bold headlands. It takes the hook * Gtinther on the Study of Fishes, Edinb., 1880. E 34 NEW SOUTH WALES readily, and is never captured by the net. It attains a great size, fishes weighing 35 and even 40 Ibs. being not uncommon. Jt is found as far as Jervis Bay to the south ; to the north it has probably a much more extended range. It has been observed of this fish that those caught off the ‘‘ Solitaries” and other places to the north of Port Jackson are as a rule of larger size than those found to the south. It is rarely seen now in the Sydney market, owing to the great falling off in the supply obtained from Port Jackson Heads, Coogee, and other places where it was formerly abundant. It is difficult to account for this diminution of the supply, for the causes which undoubtedly affect the supply of other fishes do not apply to this. The spawn is not deposited in shallow bays constantly raked by nets, the young are never taken in the seine, and the number of the adult fish captured has never been sufficient to account for the deficiency. It is probable tHat the fish has merely sought retreats further removed from the stir and traffic of Port Ji ackson,—EB.C. The Wirrah. (Plate IV.) ““WirRaH” or PLectropoma is a genus similar to that of Serranus, but armed with a row of spinous teeth on the lower jaw which are directed forwards, besides the pair of canines above. The dorsal fin has from seven to thirteen spines. This is a tropical fish for the most part. There are about thirty species known, of which we have a dozen in Australian seas. Our common marketable species is P. ocellatwm, ' Giinth. (P. cyaneo-stigma in R.R.C.) In this species the body is equal to the length of the head, and two-fifths of the whole without the caudal. Preoperculum with three spines, beneath the anterior of which is the strongest spine, which is sometimes bifid. Colour, brownish ; head, body, and base of the fins with numerous roundish spots, bluish in the centre and black round the margin, more numerous and smaller in older fishes. One of our most experienced amateur fishermen (Mr. A. Oliver) informs me that the wirrah is often mistaken by the tyro for Serranus damelit, They are both percoid fishes ; but here the resemblance ends. A good black rock cod is equal to the best turbot, and the best wirrah has the flavour and consistency of leather, which no sauce or cooking can change. Both fishes are remarkably tenacious of life. They are lively in the boat or basket long after every other fish has ceased to move. The genus Plectropoma is also numerously represented in our seas; it does not however furnish the market with a ral species of value as food. The best known species is the ‘‘wirrah” of the fishermen—Plectropoma cyaneo-stigma of Giinther.—R.R.C. : : The Glaucosoma. Glaucosoma scapulare, Macleay. An excellent food fish, but so rare that it need not be described, especially as it is figured at the end of the first volume of Macleay’s catalogue. The name of Ramsay as the authority, there given, should probably be Macleay, as its first published description was by Macleay, who quotes the name as a manuscript one of Ramsay’s. See Proc. Linn, Soc. N. 8. Wales, vol. v, p. 334. It is sometimes called a Jew-fish, because another species, G. hebraicum, goes by that name in Western Australia, Prare ILI. ‘ ScaLe oF INCHES. od Anthias longimanus.—GuUNTH. LONGFIN. FISH AND FISHERIES. 35 The Bull’s-eye. _Priacantuus. A well-marked genus, easily recognized without direct relation to other percoid genera. The body is short, compressed, covered with small rough scales, which extend also over the short snout. Lower jaw and chin prominent, Eye, large. All the teeth villiform, and present on the vomer and palatine bones. One dorsal with ten spines, anal with three. Pre-operculum’ serrated, with a more or less flat triangular spine at the angle. (G.S.F.) The “bull’s-eye” of the fishermen—Priacanthus macracanthus of Cuv. and Val., is a fairly good edible fish. It comes into the harbour in considerable shoals in the latter end of summer. or beginning of winter, some occasionally appearing as early as January. Its visits are probably made for spawning purposes, but we have no direct evidence to that effect, and we cannot find that the young fry are ever seen. The scarcity and irregularity of the supply causes this fish to be little cared for by the dealers, It is frequently mistaken for the **nannygai. ”—R.R:C, This species may be known by its large eye, which is more than one- third of the diameter of- the head. The ventral fins are long. The colour is of a light silvery grey with a pinkish tint. The head is pink and the belly silvery. Fins of a reddish pink, ventrals red, the back part of the dorsal, anal, and ventral fins having two rounded dark spots on each membrane; end of the caudal rather dark. Length, eight to twelve inches. Mouth extensible. In some respects this fish might be confounded with Anthias longimanus by inexperienced observers, but the colour and the eye will easily distinguish it. The Salmon. (Plate V.) Arripis, Body oblong, covered with scales of a moderate ste. All the teeth villiform, without canines. Teeth on the vomer and palatine bones. One dorsal fin with nine slender spines, anal with three, pre- operculum denticulated. ‘ Arripis salar. Giinth, Cat. Fish. Is in the adult state the salmon of the Australian fishermen, and their salmon trout is the young. It is of a greenish lead colour, with the upper part of the head a deep black ; on the upper part of the body are numerous irregular black spots. The operculum and the end of the pectorals are usually tinged with yellow. Its length is sometimes over 22 inches. The young specimens are of an olive green on the upper parts, with the sides and lower parts of a silvery white. On the sides and upper surface extend three or four longitudinal lines of rather large rounded and golden spots, numbering from fourteen to nineteen on each line. Dorsal fin transparent and bordered with black, caudal yellow, with its terminal part black, anal and ventrals white, pectorals yellow, sides of the head and eye of a bright yellow. This is the most common of all Victorian fishes, and the young only take the adult livery when they are at least a foot long. During the cold months of winter the adults are hardly ever seen, but they are common in the summer. In Victoria and South Australia several distinct cases of fish-poisoning have been traced to this species. 36 NEW SOUTH WALES By many it is said that if eaten perfectly fresh there isno danger in making use of it, as it is one of the most abundant food fishes in the Colony of Victoria. It is sold in great quantities by the hawkers round the suburbs of Melbourne. At best it is but a poor fish for the table, yet, strange to say, there is considerable difference in this respect between what is caught in Port Phillip and on our seaboard: with us it is considered to be one of the worst of food fishes and scarcely palatable. Prof. McCoy* says, of the Victorian Arripis :—“ Nearly all the cases of fish-poisoning in Victoria are referable to this species. Some persons are under the impression that the bad consequences are due to incipient decomposition; but I am certain that this is ‘not always the case, as I have known several instances in which the effects were strongly marked after eating perfectly fresh examples, . caught only an hour or so before cooking. It is curious that only at certain times, and to certain people, that this fish is more or less poisonous, while certainly good for food under other circum- stances not yet understood. I have known three out of five people made seriously ill from eating at breakfast newly caught fish from one basket, and the two others felt no inconvenience whatever. The symptoms are generally a few hours after eating, an extraordinary redness or flush of the skin, particularly of the face, often followed by an eruption, which soon passes away, with great derangement of the digestive organs, headache, vomiting, &. Some cases of death have been reported, but generally the bad symptoms pass away in a few hours or days. Dr. Youl, the city Coroner for many years, informs me that though he has seen many of these cases of fish-poisoning, the deaths reported were found by the Jury to be due to other causes. The flesh has often a dull pinkish tinge, which may be one of the reasons for the popular application of the names of ‘salmon’ and ‘salmon trout’ to this fish, which does not resemble the true salmon in any important respect.” It seems to “school” about the latter end of -summer, when shoals ‘of astonishing magnitude annually visit our shores. It is the A. truttaceus of Cuvier and Valenciennes, and is on the whole a large and beautiful fish. Mr. Macleay is of opinion that its evil reputation has arisen from the rapidity with which it decomposes after capture. It is said to commence to spawn in September on the east coast. The fry are unknown, as the young are developed into the so-called trout form when they come into the bay. They are caught with the net and line. There is much variation in the colours of the young. Of late years some fishermen of our port have been trying to devise a drift or purse net for this fish, which sometimes commands as much as 4s, a dozen, They have not as yet succeeded. In this family (Percide) are included some of our fresh-water fishes. It will however be more convenient for the purposes of this volume if they are treated altogether in a subsequent chapter. * Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria. Decade II., p, 22. S3HOHI Bi “AT Gtvig “HVAEMIM AHL HINO) —'1uingn]]900 vuodowq2a1g = FISH AND FISHERIES. 37 II.—Fam. ACANTHOPTERYGII PERCIFOMES— ‘ SQUAMIPINNES. Body compressed and elevated, covered with scales, either finely ctenoid or smooth. Lateral line continuous, but not extended over the caudal fin. Mouth in front of the snout, generally small, with lateral cleft ; teeth villiform or setiform, in bands without canines or incisors. Dorsal fin consisting of a spinous and soft portion of nearly equal development, anal with three or four spines, developed similarly to the soft dorsal, both many-rayed. Vertical fins more or less densely covered with small scales. Lower rays of pectoral branched, not enlarged, ven- trals thoracic with one spine and five soft rays. Stomach cecal. Eye lateral, of moderate size. The name of this family will give an easy clue to its identification. | It means scaly-finned. The soft and frequently the spiny portions of the dorsal and anal fins are so densely covered with scales that the boun- dary between where the fin begins and the body ends is quite obscured. The species are generally small, and distinguished for the extraordinary variety and beauty of their colours, including such well-known forms as the Chetodons, of which two are found in Port Jackson. It is said that all the family are carnivorous, and the “Sweep” is no exception. It can be caught with almost any bait. Mr. Oliver says, that he has caught thousands with a live or meat bait. But the odd thing in Sweep fishing is that in nine cases out of ten they are hooked foul. The neighbourhood of coral reefs abounds in forms of this beautiful group. The Sweep. (Plate VI.) This is one of a very numerous tropical family of fishes, remarkable for eccentricity of form and variety of marking, but the temperate coast of New South Wales can boast of only a few species, and of these one only, the ‘‘ sweep” ( Scorpis equipennis), _can claim recognition among our edible fishes. It is not much thought of, yet at times it is brought to market in considerable quantities, and finds consumers at fair prices. The schooling season is midsummer, and the spawn is probably deposited in the harbour, as the young sweeps are frequently caught in the seine. The air-bladder is said to be large in this fish, so that it may be found to be valu- able as an isinglass producer. It is seldom caught except in the seine, and is probably entirely a vegetable feeder.—R.R.C. The species thus referred to is described as having the family characters, with a moderate snout. Dorsal fin with nine or ten spines, anal with three, and the soft portions of both densely scaly. Jaws with an outer series of stronger teeth: teeth also on the vomer and palatine bones. Seven branchiostegals, air-bladder present, pyloric appendages very numerous. Lower margin of the preoperculum finely serrated. The dorsal and anal fins not falcate, the rays becoming shorter posteriorly. Colour uniform brownish black. 38 NEW SOUTH WALES III,—Fam. MULLIDA. Body rather low, slightly compressed, covered with thin scales, with or without extremely fine serrations; two long movable barbels. Lateral line continuous. Mouth, like the last family; cleft rather short ; teeth very feeble. Eye like the last. Two short dorsal fins remote from one another, the first with feeble spines ; anal like the second dorsal, ventrals with one spine and five rays. Pectorals short, Branchiostegals four, stomach siphonal. This family is known as “Red Mullets.” They are marine fishes, but many species enter into brackish water. They are more tropical than temperate, but extend into both seas. None attain to a large size, but all are very highly esteemed as food. They are caught with the net. We have in Port Jackson Upencoides vlamingii, Cuv. and Val. a red fish with a violet spot on each scale, and violet oblique streaks on the cheeks ; and Upeneus porosus, a red fish with two silvery streaks be- tween the eye and the mouth, parts above the lateral line darker, and the spinous dorsal blackish. The differences between these two genera is that Upeneoides has teeth on both jaws, on the vomer and palatine bones, and Upeneus has teeth in both jaws in a single series and none on the palate. The name of this family is a source of much confusion. It is derived from the Latin word Mullus, which in the form of “ Mullet ” we apply to the well-known fishes of quite a different family, the Mugilide, Another fish to which the term “Red Mullet” is applied is of the family Cottide or Gurnards. The Greek for these fishes ‘is “ T'rigle,” which Oppian derives from their breeding thrice a year. The Italian name is still “ Zriglia.” An extraordinary value was set on these fish by the Romans in the time of the Caesars. This was Mullus barbatus. Pliny, Seneca, Horace, Juvenal-bear witness to the extravagance of the wealthy of those times with regard to this fish. Nothing was considered more entertaining than to watch the change of its beautiful colours when expiring, and then when dressed it was the grand dish of the feast. IV.—Fam. SPARIDA or SEA BREAMS, Body compressed, oblong, covered with scales, the serrature of which is sometimes absent. Mouth and eye like the last. Lither cutting teeth in front or molar teeth on the side of the jaws, palate generally without teeth. Dorsal single with nearly equal spinous and soft portions. Three spines on anal. Lower rays of pectoral branched, with one excep- tion (Haplodactylus). Ventrals thoracic, with one spine and five rays, This is a most important family of fishes, which though generally small are nearly all useful. They are divided into four groups, from the form of the teeth. In the first the teeth are incisors in front of the jaws (black-fish of Port Jackson). In the second the teeth are the same, but the pectoral rays are not branched. In the third there is a single series of incisors in front, with several series of rounded molars in the sides. In the fourth the jaws have conical teeth in front, molar teeth on the side, especially adapted for crushing small shells, crabs, &c. This division includes our most abundant market fish, such as black bream, common bream, schnapper, &c. "(9 9) q399q pure (n) ondu0y Surmoys ‘qINO|—pL ‘eTeog—T “pus Tepneo qe woKD9g—q] ‘NOWIVS NYIMIVaLsny “HINOQ)— “opps sdiy ‘£poq Jo uw0y0egG—e] Puate V. arya WE * sree: FISH AND FISHERIES. 39 The Black-fish. (Plate VIL) The first division includes our Black-fish Girella tricuspidata. This genus has scaly cheeks but naked opercles. Dorsal spines received into a rather indistinct groove. Scales moderate. Six branchiostegals. Pyloric appendages numerous, air-bladder divided into two posterior horns. We have two species in Port Jackson, G. tricuspidata and G. simplex, the main distinction between which is that one has tricuspid incisor teeth and the other has smooth cutting edges with a short series of teeth on the front of the palatine bones. But intermediate forms arefound. The black-fish in the market is usually @. tricuspidata, but itis quite as common to see G. simplex sold as black-fish. In certain seasons they may be caught in abundance in shallow water with the line, the only bait being a green confervoid weed obtained on wood under sea-water.