OCCASIONAL NOTES. 



III. WESTERN AUSTRALIAN PRAWNS and SPONGES. 



In the report of the Fishing Industry for Western Australia, 

 referred to by Mr. Edgar R. Waite, Mr.' Gale writes : — " I 

 am pleased to be able to report that prawns in fairly large 

 quantities were caught in this locality. The species discovei*ed, 

 Eujihausia j^ellucidd, are very large, some measuring as 

 much as nine and three quarter inches from head to tail, and 

 from a gastronomic standpoint are very excellent. They appear 

 to exist in quantities over a large area of ground, and I am firmly 

 of opinion that a new industry will eventually be established in 

 these waters." 



A single large prawn was included in the collection forwarded, 

 and this I identify with Fe/tui'us xemisulcatus, De Haan. As this 

 attains considerable size it is probable that tlie large prawns 

 mentioned ai"e of this species. 



It is extremely improbable that tliey are correctly associated 

 with the Schizopod Eujjhaui^ia ; E. pcllucida, Dana, being fully 

 adult at 15 mm. ( = ^2- inch). 



The sponges obtained by the expedition are as follows, all 

 except one being of commercial value : — 



Euspongia illawarra, Whitelegge. 



Four examples of this valuable sponge were collected. Three 

 (Nos. 3, 4, 6) from the beach at Shark Bay and one specimen 

 washed ashore alive at Esperance. 



Hippospoiigia eqrdna, Schmidt, iim: Hasfica, Lendenfeld, is 

 represented by three examples (Nos. 2, 8, 13). 



No. 2 is a beach-worn specimen. No. 8 was washed ashore at 

 Shark Bay ; the size of this particular specimen is remarkable, it 

 is stated to have been eight feet long, and three feet by one foot. 

 No. 13 was obtained alive at Fremantle. This variety is identical 

 with the sponge imported from Europe and usually sold by the 

 chemists and druggists in Sydney. The majority of Australian 

 specimens are much coarser in texture and not (juite so tough as 



