THE GREAT BARRIER REEF. 



The current prices of the individual commercial varieties of Queensland Beche-de-mer, as 

 recently quoted in the Cooktovvn market, and supplied to the author by a prominent member 

 of the trade, are as follows. The Chinese names, furnished by a leading Chinese merchant, are 

 also added, and were obtained through the instrumentalitj' of Mr. H. Birkett, the Sub-Collector 

 of Customs at Cooktown. — 



Local Name. 



Teat-fish, black and ordinary 



,, white 



Red-fish, ordinary and deep water... 



„ surf 

 Black-fish, deep water (also, crajie black ?) 



,, ordinary and Caledonian... 

 I,arge Lolly-fish 

 Prickly-fish, or prickly-red ... 

 Sand-fish (no present demand) 



Chinese Name. 



Se-Ok-Sum 



Ma-See-Up 



Hung-Hur 



Ba-Doy-Hur 



Chao-Sah-Oo 



\V'oo-Suni 



Chong-Sum 



Chee-Suin 



(not named) 



Up to the present date, the vast quantities of Beche-de-mer collected in the Great Barrier Reef 

 fishing grounds, with the exception of a very insignificant proportion, have been shipped to China, 

 where, as previously mentioned, they occupy a forefront po-sition with relation to the same class 

 of material derived from all other sources. The small proportion that does not reach the Chinese 

 market is consumed in Australia, and is yearly becoming more considerable. Beche-de-mer soup, 

 skilfully prepared, is regarded by many connoisseurs to be equal to turtle, and is already a 

 favourite in the menus of the leading clubs and hotels in all the Australian capitals. It will 

 doubtless eventually find its way into the European market. It offers the enterprising chef 

 undreamt of possibilities, linked with such euphonious (Chinese) titles as " Se-Ok-Sum," " Woo- 

 Sum," and "Ma-See-Up." 



In addition to the nine leading varieties of Queensland Beche-de-mer mentioned in the 

 foregoing list that find most favour in the Chinese market, there are several supplementary 

 species which go to swell the general bulk exported to the Flowery Land. These supplementary 

 types of Beche-de-mer are, however, not dealt with as distinct ones, but are utilised more 

 often as "judicious blends " to swell the mass of the finer sorts. In this manner the Beche- 

 de-mer merchants may be said to reciprocate the delicate attentions paid by the Celestials, in 

 their desire to save the European palate from becoming palled by too uniformly pure a course 

 of unadulterated Kaisow or Moning. Among the more prominent species of Barrier Beche-de- 

 mer that are thus utilised as "blends," the large cream-coloured "Stone-fish," the "Sand-fish," 

 the "Spotted" or "Leopard-fish," and the "Small Lolly-fish," are most noteworthy. The 

 last-named two species have already (p. 56) been referred to. Of the small Lolly-fish, 

 Holotlmna sangitinoleiitci, n.sp., it may be further mentioned that in order to cure it 



