THE VALUABLE MULLET. 4I 



equal age with females being much smaller. The largest 

 examples usually come from the various lakes and small 

 lagoons along the New South Wales coast.* 



This fine and exceedingly valuable food-tish possesses 

 great potentialities for the future; but even at the present 

 time it is captured and disposed of in large numbers. So 

 good is the flesh, from an edible standpoint, that in addition 

 to being universally used under its rightful title, it is often 

 to be found taking the place — and under the names — of 

 fishes of greater pretentions, and giving as much satisfaction 

 as if it had been the latter. During a recent year in New 

 South Wales, about 45,000 baskets of mullet, of about 75 

 pounds weight each, were received for disposal in the various 

 fish markets. These were principally Sea Mullet of from 

 about half a pound in weight upwards (but would include 

 also other kinds of mullet), and taking them all through 

 the year they would average, say, about i pound in weight, 

 this giving us the imposing total of 3,375,000 individuals. 

 Of course, during the spawning season, when the Sea Mullet 

 are massed together, and may be captured in practically 

 unlimited quantities, the average weight of those captured 

 might be set down at about 3 pounds. 



I might mention that large numbers are disposed of at 

 various centres and in country districts, of which it is hardly 

 possible at present to obtain an account, as they do not 

 necessarily pass through any recognised market. The numbers 

 so disposed of would considerably augment those given above. 



The Sea Mullet takes the smoke admirably, and makes 

 a fine-quality tinned fish; when the latter, being somewhat 

 allied to, and in the opinion of many, superior to, tinned 

 salmon, though without the reddish tint of the flesh of the 

 latter, and with a suggestion of the flavor of " Fresh (tinned) 

 Herrings." 



The mature Sea Mullet is a fish of heavy build ; stout, 

 "full in the belly," and with a very broad head, somewhat 

 flattened above. The scales are moderately large and are 



* For a fuller reference to this species and its habits,, see my" Fishes of 

 Australia," (1906J, pp. 74-7J. 



