15^ FISHES OF AUSTRALIA. 



smaller fishes like the Pilchard or to escape the attentions 

 of Sharks and Porpoises, which play great havoc amongst 

 them. 



This species gives a considerable amount of sport to 

 anglers. It is easily captured on a line trailed behind a 

 moving boat, and, when hooked, makes a good fight before 

 being safely landed. 



Though no doubt in the future proper means will be 

 found for the utilisation and disposal of this fish, at the pre- 

 sent time it is not considered of much importance com- 

 paratively speaking from an economic point of view, as the 

 flesh is not of such a good flavour as that of the majority 

 of our food-fishes. 



In colour, the body of the King-Fish is bluish or bluish- 

 green, above ; with the sides silvery and the lower surfaces 

 whitish. 



The skin has a uniformly-smooth feeling, the scales 

 being very small and numerous. 



The Trevally : This is another widely-distributed fish. 

 It is very common in the waters of New South Wales, Vic- 

 toria, Queensland and Tasmania ; being also abundant 

 around the coasts of New Zealand, and Lord Howe, Norfolk 

 and Raoul Islands. It has been also recorded from Western 

 Australia. In Victoria it is known as Silver Trevally, while 

 in New Zealand, according to Hector, it is known under the 

 Maori name of "Arara." 



Though to a certain extent a pelagic fish, and occur- 

 ring at times in enormous shoals, this species is one of those 

 that are always with us to a greater or lesser extent, in our 

 inlets. It is very frequently to be seen in our fish markets, 

 and, if in good condition, always commands a ready sale; 

 as it is of considerable value as a table fish. Like others 

 of this family, it deteriorates very rapidly after death, if high 

 temperatures prevail ; particularly so when, as is usually the 

 case, it is not gutted. It takes the smoking process well, 

 and at times large numbers are preserved by this means. 



As regards size; the ordinary "run" of what might be 

 termed large Trevally, average about 2 to 3 pounds in 

 weight, though examples of a much larger size than that 

 are obtainable. During November, 1905, when a consider- 



