76 THE EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



In capturing this fish at sea, according to Mr. Eastway, 

 the following adjuncts are the most suitable: — A 200-yard 

 36- or 27-cord line, with three hooks snooded on hard-twisted 

 line (about 8 inches long), and a i|- pound sinker. The 

 hooks are fixed above the sinker, and three different sizes 

 should be used, viz., 6/0, 5/0, and 4/0. 



The Snapper is exceedingly elegant in form and very 

 beautiful in color, and this, coupled with the fact that it 

 bites well, has no doubt assisted it very materially in winning 

 its well-merited popularity. 



As I stated in my " Fishes of Australia," up to about 

 4 or 5 inches in length, the 5^oung fry of the Snapper, which 

 are then characterised by the possession of dark vertical 

 bars on the body, are very often known as " Cockneys." 

 I should have mentioned that the prevailing color of the 

 Snapper throughout life is a most delicious pink; which 

 becomes, usually, richer and a little deeper in tint with 

 increased age. 



Bej^ond the " Cockney " stage and up to a weight of 

 about a pound and a half, the Snapper is known as Red 

 Bream, that is ih the restricted sense qf the term. At the 

 beginning of this stage, the vertical bars gradually disappear 

 and most beautiful pale-blue spots, which before were quite 

 noticeable, novv^ become very prominent; particularly on the 

 lipper surface' of the body. Later on in life and up to a 

 fairly large size, this species is known to the fishermen first 

 as " Squire " and then as " School Snapper "; while beyond 

 this stage, we get what is known as the " Old-Man Snapper." 

 At che last-mentioned stage, the fish is characterised by a 

 tremendous, bony protuberance at the top of the head; and, 

 at the same time, a flabby, fleshy nose, of almost hiiman 

 appearance, is formed. At this time, the' likeness of the 

 Old Man Snapper's countenance to a human face is often 

 most remarkable, particularly when — as is so often the 

 case — the nose has the bloated appearance of an inebriate's. 

 The' Old- Man Snapper- is ■ sometimes caught of a weight of 

 over 30 pounds. -It is found on sandy bottoms in fairly 



