112 THE EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Mr. R. E. Eastway, the authority before-quoted, con- 

 siders that in fishing for common Flathead with hook and 

 line, the following is most suitable: — A No. 12 varnished 

 silk twist, or a No. 40 thread, line, about 50 yards long; with 

 a 4/0 or 5/0 hook, on twisted gut, phosphor-bronze wire, 

 or gimp. A medium running sinker is best for most places; 

 but if the boat is moored, the bait should be kept on the 

 move all the time. 



Rock Flathead {Platycephalus Icsvigatus). 



This Flathead does not enter largely into consumption 

 in New South Wales, as it — being a southern species — only 

 begins to occur in abundance (as far as New South Wales 

 is concerned) along the southernmost portion of the coastline. 



It is a smaller species than the preceding, and is much 

 narrower and rounder in the body. 



Sand Flathead {Platycephalus bassensis). 



Pi.ATi; LXXVin. 



Sometimes known as Red Flathead. It is captured in 

 abundance by line at sea, on sandy bottoms, in water of 

 from a few fathoms deep down to moderate ocean depths. 

 It is an important food-fish growing to a large size, and 

 occurring in such abundance as to warrant a much greater 

 amount of attention being given to its capture than is the 

 case at present. 



This species is reddish in color, with bluish spots dis- 

 tributed over the upper surface. 



Long-spined Flathead {Platycephalus longispinis). 



This is the smallest of our commercial species. 11 i.-> 

 usually captured by line at sea in much the same situations 

 as the Sand Flathead, though not so abundantly. Only the 

 largest examples may be termed marketable as the species 

 only grows to a length of 12 or 13 inches, and is sexually 

 mature at a length of 7 or 8 inches. The name " Spikey " 

 is applied to this fish by the comparatively few fishermen 

 who come in contact with it, on account of the huge and 



