A FAVORITE TABI.E-FISH. 37 



River Garfish {Hcmirhamphus recjufnris). 



Plate XI. 



This garfish is still more important than the previously- 

 mentioned one, and is one of the principal, as well as one 

 of the most frequently seen, fishes of the fish markets of 

 New South Wales. It naturally abounds in the coastal 

 lakes, harbors, and estuaries ; in some instances extending 

 almost up to the regions of fresh water. 



As I have pointed out in my " Fishes of Australia," 

 some idea of the great importance of the garfishes in the 

 fisheries of New South Wales alone may be gathered from 

 the fact that about 5,000 baskets of them are marketed 

 annually. The great bulk of these is River Garfish. In 

 addition to this number, great quantities are captured at 

 various places and " hawked " round by the fishermen them- 

 selves, without the fish having passed through the markets 

 at all. 



The River Garfish attains a weight of from 8 to 9 ounces, 

 with a length of 13 or 14 inches; those usually captured by 

 the fishe-men, however, average from 2 to '4 ounces. As 

 previously pointed out, it is more robust in form — though' 

 smaller — than the Sea Garfish. 



The colors are as follow : — Back, pale green; the upper 

 surface of the head darker, and with golden reflections. 

 Three narrow black vertebral streaks, not extending so far' 

 back as the dorsal fin. Two similar but irregular and broader 

 streaks between these and the broad lateral silvery band, 

 which is. bordered above by a narrow orange streak. There 

 is a faint black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. 



The River Garfish is usually found in considerable 

 abundance on sand-and-mud fiats, where these are covered 

 with " sea-grass," upon which it, to a great e.xtent, subsists. 



Barred Garfish {Hemirhamphus far). 



This large garfish appears to be fairly common at times 

 in the waters of the northern portion of our coast. It attains 



