92 THE EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



fishes were gutted before being forwarded to market, they 

 would arrive in a very different state to that in which they 

 are often to be seen. At the present time, the average 

 fisherman feels rather aggrieved if a few Tailer are enclosed 

 in his net, as they have a troublesome habit of rushing the 

 net, snapping at it with those awful jaws and making holes 

 to let themselves and other fishes out. 



As a smoked fish the Tailer is " really excellent," that 

 being the universal opinion; and from an economic point of 

 view, undoubtedly there is a great future before it. In the 

 United States of America, at the present time, great quantities 

 are captured and sold, either in a fresh condition or preserved 

 in a smoked or pickled state; the amount consumed annually 

 in the country mentioned aggregating many millions of pounds 

 in weight. 



In New South Wales waters the Tailer attains a length 

 of about 3 feet. 



Dart [Trachinotus russelli). 



Plate LXII. 



This food-fish is not often represented in our m.arkets, 

 being a northern species. Occasionally, however, it makes 

 an , appearance in waters as far south as Port Jackson or 

 Botany Bay, when small quantities are forwarded to market. 

 During the winter of 1907, several baskets* were taken in 

 one haul at Botany Bay. As an edible fish it is of considerable 

 value, and as it is very pleasing to the eye, its importance 

 in our future fisheries should be very m.uch greater than at 

 present. 



From other edible fishes the Dart may be at once dis- 

 tinguished by its long " swallow-tail," and the greatly pro- 

 duced and pointed dorsal and anal fins. For the benefit of 

 those who are familiar with American food-fishes, it may be 

 mentioned that it is the species of the same genus as this 

 {Trachinofus) which are known in America as Pompanos. 



The average length of those marketed in New South 

 Wales is from 12 to 15 inches. 



* A basket is equal to a weight of about 75 pounds. 



