go THE EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



This fish is elongate in form, the body not being highly 

 compressed. The skin has a smooth feeling, the scales being 

 small. 



Runner [Elagatis hipinnulaius). 



Plate LX. 



The only record of the occurrence of this fine species in 

 our waters is that made by me last year,* when I chronicled 

 the capture of a specimen, measuring 27-J- inches, which had 

 been captured off North Head, Port Jackson. The species 

 is gregarious, and the example captured was probably one 

 of a large shoal. 



Tailer {Pomatomus saltatrix). 



Fl.ATE LXL 



This is the important food-fish which is so familiar to our 

 American brothers as " Blucfish," and here I might be per- 

 mitted to illustrate its abundance in the waters of New South 

 Wales by suggesting that, should the American supplies ever 

 give out, the plant for its capture may safely be transferred 

 here, as the supply, both present and prospective, is apparently 

 without limit. 



In the following I have quoted largely from mj' article 

 on the Tailer in " Fishes of Australia," wherein I dealt pretty 

 fully with it. 



Though adult Tailer (or Tailor) are adapted for roaming 

 over large areas of water — and do so — the young are found in 

 great profusion in many of the inlets embraced within its 

 habitat. Particularly is this so in Port Jackson, where large 

 numbers of immature examples are enclosed in almost every 

 haul of the " garfish " — or " hauling " — net. Even in the inlets 

 themselves, the young often mass themselves together so as 

 to form large shoals, particularly when small fishes like the 

 young of the Pilchard are present in great quantities. 

 Amongst these the young Tailer, trying to emulate their 

 older relatives, play great havoc. When the Tailer are 



* Stead: Additions to the Fish-Fauna of New South Wales (No. i), 1907, p. 17. 



