96 THE EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Southern Tunny {Thunnus [Gemio] mzccoiji). 



During June of last year (1907) large shoals of this 

 mighty mackerel were discovered to b-c present in our coastal 

 waters in the immediate vicinity of Port Jackson and Port 

 Hacking; and some of the fishes made their way into the 

 mouth of Port Jackson. The individuals in these shoals 

 averaged from 5 to 7 feet in length, and were of a great 

 weight. The first example taken was harpooned off the mouth 

 of Port Hacking by a party out in pursuit of porpoises 

 (Dolphins). This was examined by me and identified with 

 Castelnau's ThynntLS maccoyi. I found it to measure 4 feet 

 io| inches to the fork of the tail, and it weighed 139 pounds. 

 During the next few days succeeding, a few of those which 

 entered Port Jackson Heads were captured by a fisherman 

 in the vicinity, using a " Kingfish net " ; and these were said 

 to be about 7 feet long. On both occasions, the water off 

 shore v/as stated to be literally alive with these Tunnies. 



Again, during September, the men (Goldsmith Brothers) 

 who harpooned the first one, happened on a large shoal of 

 the young of this species, and about twenty were captured. 

 One of these preserved by me weighed I2|- pounds. 



Though these are the only definite records of the occur- 

 rence of this mighty and useful food-fish in New South Wales 

 waters, it is highly probable that they are, and have been 

 often present, but unrecognised, and it seems to me very 

 likely that the young at least have been confused at times 

 with the Bonito. 



A statement of the colors as noted by me at the time 

 that I identified the first specimen, mentioned above, will not 

 be out of place: — -Upper parts, deep bluish-black, becoming 

 steel-blue towards the sides, and working into a deep-brownish 

 tinge on the top and upper part of the sides of the head; 

 sides ashen-grey, dusted over with darker. (No very distinct 

 line of demarcation between color of back and sides.) Lower 

 surface, coral-white. Iris, yellowish-orange, sparsely dusted 

 over with darker. Projection on each side of tail, orange- 

 yellow with a bluish-green niaigin. A somewhat leaden or 



