86 THE EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



wherein I stated that this species possesses considerable 

 value, being of good flavor and consistency, and that only 

 a better knowledge of its good qualities is needed to ensure 

 its consumption, as food, on a very much larger scale than 

 at present, the supply — both present and prospective — 

 being practically without limit. In its capture the proper 

 gear would be, as in most other rock-dwellers, the trammel- 

 net. It is seldom taken by hook and line, the principal 

 reason being that it subsists chiefly upon the gelatinous 

 seaweeds obtained in rocky situations. 



The Herring Kale furnishes a fine type of species in 

 which secondary sexual characters are displayed. The males 

 are of a uniform bluish-black, with a bright blue, or bluish- 

 green, band near the outer margin of each caudal lobe and 

 on each pectoral fin; the form of the body also is miore 

 elongate than that of the female, while the lobes of the caudal 

 fin are more produced, sometimes greatly so. In the female 

 the head and body are beautifully mottled with brown, 

 orange-gold, and blue, while on the sides of the head are 

 orange and bluish vermiculated bands. Viewed in an 

 aquarium the female is seen to be a strikingly beautiful object, 

 and under the same circumstances, it may be pointed out, 

 the male appears to be of a uniform French-grey color 

 (excepting the colored bands on caudal and pectoral fins). 



THE YELLOWTAIL FAMILY. 



Yellowtail {Trachurus declivis). 



Exceedingly abundant along the coast of New South 

 Wales, though not much used as food. Notwithstanding 

 this, its flesh is very tasty. Most of those captured by the 

 fishermen and brought to market are immature, and are used 

 as bait by line fishermen in the capture of more highly-prized 

 species. The largest usually seen on this coast would run 

 to about 12 or 13 inches. 



This fish is sometimes known as " Scad." 



