40 THE EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOl^TH WALES. 



HARDYHEADS. 



Hardyhead {Atherina lacunosa). 



This is a small carnivorous iish (not unlike a Mullet in 

 general appearance), which is very abundantly distributed 

 along the coast of New South Wales. Ordinarily it is to be 

 found in great numbers, spread out over the sandy bottoms 

 and slopes of our beaches in inlets; but at times, huge shoals 

 swarm along the beaches in dense masses. 



The average size of full-grown Hardyheads is from 5 to 

 6 inches. Though small they are excellent for table purposes; 



The Hardyhead is closely allied to the well-known British 

 Sand Smelt -or Atherine,' and is of about the same size. 



THE MULLET FAMILY. 



Sea Mullet {Mugil dobula). 



Pl.ATF. XII. 



This is the largest, as well as the most im])ortant, of all 

 our mullets: and is, without doubt, the principal " standby " 

 of the fish markets in New South Wales. It is exceedingly 

 abundant at all times, but during the months of April, May, 

 June, and July enormous shoals of the mature iish congregate 

 together, impelled by the spawning instinct. The Sea Mullet 

 is naturally an inhabitant of the estuaries, where it is to be 

 found in great numbers in the vicinity of muddy bottoms 

 and mud fiats. It also grows well and thrives in fresh-water 

 lagoons, &c., but, apparently, does not breed in such localities. 

 The egg of this iish, it may be mentioned, is of a pelagic or 

 freely-floating nature, and is deposited in prodigious numbers 

 at the surface of the ocean, or in the vicinity of harbour 

 entrances, along our coastline. Each female produces an 

 enormous quantity of eggs. 



The Sea Mullet grows to a length of about 30 inches, 

 with a weight of about ib* pounds. In my experience all 

 the larger fish in a normal' school are females — males of an 



