34 THE EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



organised by Mr. Frank Farnell, Chairman of the Board of 

 Fisheries for New South Wales — it was shown that this species 

 is exceedingly common in ocean waters of moderate depth 

 along a great part of the New South Wales coast line. 



The excessively large eye of the Cucumber- Fish measures, 

 in diameter, about half the length of the head itself. 



THE FLUTE-MOUTHS. 



Flute-Mouth {Fistularia depressa). 



Not uncommon along the New South Wales coast, attain- 

 ing to a length of from 3 to 4 feet. 



Another species of Flute-mouth {Fistularia scrrata) also 

 occurs in these waters. 



LONG-TOMS AND GARFISHES. 



Slender Long-Tom {Tylosurus jerox). 



Platk X (Upper Figure). 



This is a very long, slender, pelagic fish, attaining a 

 length of 3 feet or more. Of a very voracious nature, it 

 skims the surface of our coastal waters at a high speed and 

 with somewhat snake-like, sinuous motions, in pursuit of its 

 prey, which consists of small surface organisms, including 

 small fishes such as garfishes and the young of other species. 

 It possesses long, narrow, highly attenuated jaws, closely set 

 with fine, needle-like teeth. 



The Slender Long-Tom is not infrequently captured 

 amongst Sea Garfish. As a food-fish it is of delicate flavor, 

 but is a little troublesome owing to the many fine rib-bones, 

 which are not quite fine enough to be consumed with the 

 flesh, as in the case of the two commoner garfishes. 



The colors are as follows: back, light green, with three 

 parallel dark lines running along the middle from the back of 

 the head to the beginning of the dorsal fin; sides iridescent, 

 bright, silvery; the upper portions dotted over with green. 

 Beak above, dark green; below, iridescent silvery. 



