THE BARRACOUTA FAMILY. 167 



coxii), and the Scabbard-Fish or Frost-Fish (Lepidopus 

 caudatns}. 



The Barracouta is a highly voracious fish, attaining 

 a large size and distributed over many waters. It is a very 

 valuable food-fish, immense numbers being captured and 

 preserved by either pickling or smoking, amr ally, for table 

 purposes. At the same time, though, when properly pre- 

 pared, it is undoubtedly of good flavour, it can hardly be 

 placed amongst our first-class table fishes. The species is 

 commonly found in the waters of Chile, the Cape of Good 

 Hope, New Zealand, Tasmania, South Australia, ( ?) 

 Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. A 

 great fishery for the Barracouta exists in the vicinity of 

 Bass Strait, large numbers being captured and forwarded 

 to Melbourne and Sydney for disposal, in addition to those 

 which are disposed of in Tasmania. Their capture is effected 



Fig. 60. BARRACOUTA (Thyrsites atun). 



by means of hook and line ; and in this no difficulty is ex- 

 perienced, as the Barracouta is neither particular as to the 

 kind of bait used nor slow about taking it. Any bright 

 moving object is sufficient to attract the fish, a piece of red 

 flannel fastened to the hook being a first-class bait. When 

 the Barracouta are at all "thick" large hauls are often made 

 within a very short time. Recently, in one day and from 

 a small steam-launch off Derwent Lighthouse, Tasmania, 

 the great haul of over 2000 of this species is said to have 

 been made. In South Africa also, where the fish is known 

 as "Snoek," a great fishery exists. 



The Barracouta is quite common along the most 

 southern portion of the coastline of New South Wales ; and, 

 during the last few years in the winter-time it has made 

 its appearance in fairly large shoals in Port Jackson, and as 



