A MUCH-NEGLECTED FISH. 25 



Pilchard or Maray {Clupanodon neopilchardus). 



Plate IV. 



A fish which is potentially of immense importance, but 

 which is at present but little used. It is by far the most 

 important of the Herring family in the waters of New South 

 Wales, occurring, as it does at certain seasons, in enormous 

 shoals covering vast areas, and comprising incredible numbers. 

 This statement applies to both young and adult stages. 



The Australian Pilchard is, to all intents and purposes, 

 practically identical, as a food product, with the Sardine of 

 commerce; and many thousands of pounds might be made 

 out of its capture in the waters of New South Wales annually. 

 At times, so densely packed together are the shoals, that it 

 has been found possible to dip a basket into the sea and lift 

 it out half full of the pilchards. In the pursuit of this and 

 our smaller clupeids, a lucrative fishery awaits persons of 

 enterprise, experience, and resource. 



The Pilchard " smokes " well, and a small quantity is so 

 treated annually in New South Wales. Shoals of pilchards 

 are to be found at various times throughout the year, but 

 those consisting of the mature fishes, averaging about 9 or 

 10 inches in length, are in their greatest magnitude during 

 spring and early summer, notably — in my own experience — 

 during the month of September. These shoals are usually 

 making north. 



In regard to bodily shape and structure, the Pilchard is 

 elongate, with the body rather rounded and very " fleshy." 

 It is covered with thin, fairly large, and very deciduous 

 scales. The abdominal scutes, which are such a prominent 

 feature in some of the members of the Herring family are 

 very slightly developed, and the belly is rounded. These 

 features, coupled with the looseness of the scales, are of great 

 im])ortance in assisting to elevate this valuable fish to the 

 rank of a first-class food product. 



The Pilchard commonly attains to a length of 9 or 10 

 inches, individuals of a larger size occurring in most shoals. 



