no THE EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Bullrout {Notesthes robusta). 



Plate LXXVI. 



Though but httle used, the BuHrout is of considerable 

 value from an edible point of view. The reason that it is 

 not usually regarded with favor is because of the dread in 

 which it is held, on account of its power of inflicting the most 

 painful of wounds, by means of two sharp spines on each 

 side of the head. These spines are erectile at will, when they 

 become really formidable weapons. One of them is short and 

 triangular, while the other is long and thornlike. Owing to 

 the Bullrout's habit of lurking quietly in muddy localities 

 amongst weed, the unwary wader is liable to feel the fish 

 before he sees it; and if he once feels it he is never likely to 

 forget it. 



This fish is distributed along the greater part of the New 

 South Wales coastline, inhabiting the estuaries, particularly 

 their upper portions, and penetrating right up into the fresh 

 waters of creeks and rivers.. As instances of this, I might 

 mention that specimens are sometimes taken in the salt water 

 of Botany Bay, while at the same time they are captured 

 in the fresh water above the Canterbury Dam, while the species 

 is found occurring in the waters of the Hawkesbury River 

 from the lower part of its estuary right up into the Nepean. 

 It appears to be most abundant, however, in the regions of 

 brackish water. 



In appearance, the head of this grotesque-looking fish is 

 strangely suggestive of a rhinoceros, there being a prominent 

 " hump " on the snout before the eyes. 



As I mentioned in " Fishes of Australia," there is an idea 

 in certain quarters that the flesh of the Bullrout is poisonous, 

 but this fear is altogether unwarranted, the flesh being both 

 wholesome and usually palatable. 



The color is brownish, marbled with blackish. 



The Bullrout grows to a length of lo to 12 inches. 



