50 THE EDIBLE FI3HES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



In a commercial way, the Blackfish is usually captured 

 by means of the hauling net (a seine-net), but as it is also a 

 great fighter when hooked, it is much sought after by amateur 

 fishermen with rod and line, or with line only, the bait used 

 being a hairy-looking green seaweed. It is very properly 

 regarded as one of the principal estuary game-fishes. 



Mr. R. E. Eastway furnishes me with the following in- 

 formation in regard to the capture of the Blackfish by means 

 of rod and line: — These fish are caught with a rod (a fairly 

 stiff one, 12 feet long, is used), a 3-inch wood Nottingham reel, 

 a No. 60 50-yard thread line, a 3-feet gut cast, on the end of 

 the line, a No. 9 small stout hook, a light float fixed 4 feet 

 from hook, and just enough lead on the cast to cock the 

 float. 



The average weight of adult Blackfish obtained for market 

 would run about i to 2 pounds, but examples up to a weight 

 of as much as 6 pounds are known. 



As showing the great economic value of this fish, I may 

 state that during a recent year a, quantity of about 15,000 

 baskets was marketed in New South Wales. This quantity 

 would be equivalent to about 1,125,000 pounds. 



// is of great gejicral interest to mention here, that I have 

 made the discovery that the fish which has been hitherto known 

 here {in literature principally) as " Ludrick," is the female 

 Blackfish. In this, the teeth have a smooth, even, chisel-like 

 cutting edge, whereas in the male they are, as indicated in 

 the specific name, tricuspid. 



As long ago as 1846, these chisei-toothed females were 

 described as a distinct species by Richardson, and they have 

 been known here for many years under the technical name 

 of Girclla simplex. It will, therefore, come as a surprise to 

 many to learn that the differences between the tricuspid- 

 toothed and the chisel-toothed Blackfish are not specific, but 

 merely sexual. 



Ogilby, in his " Edible Fishes and Crustaceans of New 

 South Wales," published in 1893, gave a complete description 



