A LITTLE- KNOWN FISH. 43 



The flesh of the Flat-tail Mullet is of fine flavor when 

 taken fresh, and is often considered to be superior to that of 

 other mullets. This, however, is probably a matter of opinion, 

 as it is hard to find two people, taken casually, who will express 

 the same opinion in regard to the respective flavors of various 

 kinds of fish, particularly if the latter be allied species. 



This fish grows exceptionally to a length of about i8 inches 

 (or even more), with a weight of 2 pounds; the usual length 

 of those marketed, however, would range from 9 to 12 inches. 



In form the Flat-tail Mullet is more com.pressed or slab- 

 sided than the Sea Mullet; the scales, too, are somewhat 

 larger, and consequently less numerous; while the eye is devoid 

 of the fleshy lid. 



The colors are as follows : — Steel-blue above, silvery on 

 the sides, white below. The scales of the back and sides have 

 each a narrow longitudinal streak along the middle, forming 

 bands; often with golden reflections. There is a small black 

 spot at the root of the pectoral fin, preceded by a bright 

 golden blotch. The second dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are 

 tinged with gold on their outer margins. 



Silver Mullet {Mugil georgii). 



This beautiful mullet, though ])lentiful in our northern 

 waters and occurring at times in very considerable numbers, 

 has been until quite recently practically unrecognised. In fact 

 it was only described as recently as 1897, by Mr. J. D. Ogilby, 

 the description being founded upon a single small specimen 

 obtained by him at George's River (an arm of Botany Bay) 

 during 1895. Notwithstanding this, there is little doubt in 

 my mind that the species must have appeared in the markets 

 from time to time long before this date, mixed up with con- 

 signments of either Flat-tail or Sea Mullet. To my knowledge 

 this has happened since on a number of occasions. 



The Silver Mullet is the least, in point of size, of our 

 known mullets, attaining maturity at a small size, full-grown 

 examples being of a length of from 9 to 10 inches. The 

 southernmost water of New South Wales from which we have 

 obtained this species, so far, is Bateman's Bay. From this 



