FOOD AND FANCY FISHES. 281 



the Barramunda, a name that it would appear is somewhat indiscriminately applied by the aborigines 

 to all large fresh-water fish of superior gastronomic properties. Another local name, by which 

 this fish is known in the Pioneer River district, is that of the "Palmer." The Queensland giant 

 perch has a somewhat extensive distribution, being met with also on the coast-line and in the 

 rivers of India. Distinguished by the local title of the "Cockup," it is one of the most highly- 

 esteemed fish sold in the Calcutta market, its flesh being remarkably light and well-flavoured. 

 The large Queensland species, described by MacLeay and Allport under the name of Pseudolates 

 cavifrons, is now regarded as identical with Lates cnlcarifer. An allied, but much smaller species, 

 Lates coloiionmi, Gth., representing one of the most abundant market fish of Victoria, and there 

 commonly known as the Gippsland perch, while extending to New South Wales, does not so far 

 appear to have been met with in Queensland waters. Psammopcrca Waigiensis, C. & Val., is an 

 allied percoid of economic value, belonging more essentially to the inter-tropical seaboard of 

 Queensland, and extending thence along the North Australian coast-line. Enoplosiis armafns 

 of White (the old wife, or bastard dorey, of the Melbourne and Sydney markets) has been recorded 

 from Moreton Bay, but is not of great value as a food-fish. 



The sea perches included in the genus Serranus are represented in Queensland waters by 

 upwards of twenty species, the majority being inhabitants of the inter-tropical zone. They are for 

 the most part brilliantly coloured and ornamented with spots, crossbands, or longitudinal stripes. 

 Nearly all are edible, more or less esteemed for the table ; and they in many instances attain to a 

 large size. Their capture is most readily effected by line fishing. Several of the species common 

 to Queensland waters, includmg Serranus Itexagonatiis, C. & Val., have been taken by the author at 

 Port Darwin. A common Barrier Reef species, Serranus crapao, C. & V., coloured a dark olive- 

 green, with rust-red spots, is represented by Plate XLIII., Fig. 3. In another abundant reef form 

 apparently identical with Serranus ouatalibi, C. & V., the ground colour is reddish-brown, decorated 

 throughout with brilliant blue, black-edged, spots. One of the Serrani obtained in Moreton Bay, 

 5. gcometricus, De V., is popularly known as the "surveyor," while a number of others are 

 indiscriminately, though wrongly, classified as rock-cod. 



The several genera, Plectropoma, Priacanthus, Genyoroge, Diploprion, Pristipoma, Mesoprion, 

 and Glaucosoma, all closely allied to Serranus, contain collectively some twenty species of value 

 for human food. Among those with which popular names have been already associated may be 

 mentioned the red bass, Mesoprion superbis, Cast. ; the spotted wirrah, Pristipoma waeulatmn, Bl. ; 

 the hussar, Genyoroge aniabilis, De V., the queen fish, G. regia, De V., and the pink G. rubuauda, 

 De V. Also the epaulette fish, Glaucosoma scapulare, Ram., known to Sydney fishermen by the 

 title of the pearl perch. The javelin fish, Pristipoma hasta, which grows to a considerable size, 

 and is much esteemed for food, occurs plentifully northwards from Rockingham Bay, and has been 

 collected by the author in connection with the recent surveying cruise of H.M.S. Myrmidon 

 along the northern coast, as far west as Port Darwin and Cambridge Gulf A representation of 



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