qS the edible fishes of new south wales. 



I have received no further evidence of the existence of this 

 species in our waters since the capture of those first recorded. 



Spotted Spanish Mackerel {Scomberomorus guttatus). 



Though they are not turned to much account in our 

 ])resent fisheries, the Spanish Mackerels (of both the known 

 species) must be considered as being amongst the most 

 important of our fishes. Occurring at intervals in prodigious 

 shoals and attaining a large size, they can hardly fail to be 

 of great commercial value in our future fisheries; and there 

 appears to be every probability of a very lucrative fishery 

 being established on this coast. 



The Spanish Mackerels are very well known, and greatly 

 esteemed, in the United States of America, as food-fishes, 

 and there is absolutely no reason why they should not come 

 as prominently forward (or even more so) in our own waters, 

 where they are so abundant. 



Of elegant and beautiful form, these fishes are the very 

 essence of speed; and they are essentially pelagic or oceanic 

 n habit, roaming freely over large areas of sea. 



The Spotted Spanish Mackerel attains a length of about 

 6 feet, and is very elongate in shape. In color it is bluish 

 above and silvery on the sides, the latter being ornamented 

 with fairlv large, somewhat ovate or circular, dark spots. 



Barred Spanish Mackerel {Scomheromorus commersoyiii). 



I'l.ATE LXVl.* 



This species is somewhat higher in the body than the 

 preceding. The color of the body is very like that of the 

 Spotted Spanish Mackerel, but instead of spots, the sides 

 are very prettily ornamented with more or less wavy vertical 

 bars of a deep bluish tint.j It grows to a length of about 

 4 feet or more. 



A large shoal of these was present in our waters at the 

 end of January of this year. One of this shoal, which I 

 handled, measured about 4 feet 6 inches. 



* ."^ee also the special desi^^n on the front of the cover of this work, which 

 gives an inni)ression of a shoal of these Tshes in full tilt. 



t These hais are broader ani straighter in young and half-grown examples. 



