THE BELOVED " DARKIE. 77 



deep water, where it sul^sists chictly upon starfishes, sand- 

 worms, crustaceans, &c. One would think that the condition 

 of the teeth at this stage might have something to do with 

 this change of habitat, as they are then worn and often 

 decayed. 



Black Bream {Chrysophrys australis). 



Plate XLVI. 



Of all the commercial fishes of New South Wales, this 

 fine food-fish is undoubtedly the most important, while it is 

 also the recognised premier of our coastal sporting-fishes. 

 Wily and careful of nature, often the most tempting baits 

 and finest of tackle have to be used before the Black Bream 

 or " Brim." as it is familiarly called, can be inveigled into 

 taking the angler's hook, and when he is hooked, he is a 

 stubborn and courageous fighter. Handsome in appearance, 

 and of fine flavor and consistency when cooked, as well 

 as growing commonly to a good marketable size, there is 

 little wonder that this fish has climbed so high in the public 

 estimation; while, because of the characters previously 

 mentioned, more devotees amongst our anglers are to be 

 found worship})ing at its shrine than falls to the lot of any 

 other Australian fish. 



In a commercial way this species is captured usually 

 by net (hauling or meshing), in or near the mouths of our 

 harbours and estuaries, as well as in the coastal (salt water) 

 lakes. In these localities immense hauls are often made. 

 While it may properly be termed an estuary fish, large 

 quantities are distributed at times along our beaches and 

 around the rocky shores of our coastline; but it is rarely 

 taken on what arc termed the outside, or Snapper, grounds. 

 It subsists mainly upon small crustaceans and mollusca 

 (being at times highly destructive to young oysters), and 

 is easily able to reduce to fragments even fairly stout shells, 

 by means of the powerful molars on each side of its jaws. 



Some idea of its- great importance as a food-fish may 

 be gathered when I mention that a weight of about 1,350,000 



