9 2 FISHES OF AUSTRALIA. 



estuaries ; and the latter is that hairy-looking light-green 

 seaweed commonly found growing around rocks, piles and 

 floating timber. This weed is the usual bait employed in 

 fishing for this species with hook and line. 



Though this fish has a somewhat dingy-looking appear- 

 ance some time after being caught as it appears in the 

 fish-shops, for instance still, when it is quite fresh, it is 

 really a handsome species, being generally of a silvery-grey, 

 with a number of dark-brown vertical bands. These bands 

 are particularly prominent in young Blackfish. In examples 

 of this species which have inhabited dark, muddy waters 

 for any length of time, or certain coastal lakes which have 

 for a time been cut off from connection with the sea, these 

 vertical bands become almost, or completely, lost, and the 

 fish is then of a brownish or blackish hue, being a little 

 lighter on the lower surface. Like many of our estuarine 

 fishes, this species is able to exist in waters that are almost 

 free from any trace of salinity. 



Fig. 35. BLACKFISH (Girclln tricuspidcita). 



Though this fish is a true vegetable-feeder, as indicated 

 by the peculiar structure of its teeth, and the great bulk of 

 its digestive organs, young examples will take an animal 

 bait quite freely. 



The Blackfish when hooked is a great "fighter," and 

 is rightly looked upon by the angling portion of our popu- 

 lation as one of our best sporting fishes. 



The average weight of the adult Blackfish usually 

 obtained varies from i pound to 2 pounds, but examples 



