IV 



PREFACE. 



While the book is intended to be a "popular work" 

 in the fullest sense of the term, much of the information 

 herein-offered, will be found to be entirely new. while 

 of that which is not altogether so. a large amount is placed 

 before Australian readers for the first time. Though it 

 is intended and hoped that it will subserve all the functions 

 of a truly popular work, at the same time, the subject has 

 been treated of in a properly systematic manner from an 

 ichthyological point of view. Thus, the general reader 

 will, when satisfying a natural curiosity, be enabled to 

 learn, without trouble, something of the classification of 

 our fishes ; while to the student of zoology, its value will 

 be quite apparent. Each family of Australian fishes has 

 been dealt with in its proper ichthyological sequence; the 

 most important examples economically, or if none is of 

 importance the most striking, being touched upon. In 

 most cases, brief descriptions are given, or the salient 

 features are dwelt upon, so as to assist the reader in 

 identifying the fishes for himself, should they be met with. 

 In this connection, the reader will be greatly helped by 

 the numerous illustrations to be. found interspersed 

 throughout the book. 



The information contained in the introductory portion 

 (Chap. I.) should enable the general reader to understand 

 most technical descriptions of fishes, such as appear in 

 the great works of reference, while for ready reference 

 I have included an Appendix, showing at a glance the 

 principal edible fishes of Australia, with also the States 

 in the waters of which they chiefly abound. The atten- 

 tion of students is directed to the Table of Classification 

 of Australian Fishes appearing at the end of Chapter I., 

 and those who specially interest themselves in the advance 

 and welfare of our country, may find the chapter on Fish 

 Economics of some value. It will certainly help to show 

 what is not done in the utilisation of our marine commer- 

 cial products. 



