EDIBLE THOUGH HORRIFIC. 2<) 



THE BEAKED SALMON. 



Beaked Salmon {Gonorhynchus gonorhynchus). 



Not a very common New South Wales fish, although 

 occurring more frequently than has hitherto been imagined. 

 Found in sandy localities, and attaining a length of i8 to 20 

 inches. The body is elongate and cylindrical. The mouth 

 is beneath the curious pointed snout, and the eye is large. 



CATFISHES. 



Estuary Catfish {Cnidoglanis megastomus). 



Platk. VII. 



This curious and ugly,, somewhat eel-like fish, is very 

 common in the estuaries, harbors, and coastal lakes all along 

 the coast of New South Wales, abounding principally in 

 muddy localities, and attaining a length of about 3 feet. At 

 the back and sides of the head (connected with the dorsal 

 and pectoral fins) are fearful serrated spines, which these 

 creatures know well how to use ; and wounds caused by these 

 are exceedingly painful. The capacity of the Estuary Cat- 

 fish to produce these wounds, coupled with its ugly appearance, 

 has contrived to bring about a feeling of disgust in most 

 people, and by most fishermen it is looked upon as a pest, 

 little better than the troublesome Stingrays. Still, notwith- 

 standing this, the fish is an edible species of no mean order, 

 the flesh being white and of good flavor. For the table it 

 should be boiled, and the skin removed — the head portion 

 being previously cut off. 



In life, the colors of this species are rather attractive, 

 the whole of the body being curiously mottled with greyish 

 and brownish tints. A short time after death, however, the 

 skin usually assumes a dirty brown or blackish tint, not at 

 all pleasant to look upon. 



