10 EDIBLE FISHES OP NEW SOUTH WALES. 



The Black Eock-Cod, or Black Sea-Perch as it should more properly be 

 termed, is found iu numbers along the entire coastline of New South 

 Wales, at least as far south as Jervis Bay, but it has not been recorded from 

 either Yictoi-ian or Tasmanian v/aters. Northwards its range is not so easily 

 determinable, but is probably considerable, as it has been recorded from 

 jSTormanby Island in the D'Entrecasteaux Group, off the extreme south- 

 eastern shore of New Guinea, where Goldie obtained it in fresh n-ater, 

 presuming that Macleay's identification is correct. 



They are abundant at Lord Howe Island where they are much appreciated 

 by the inhabitants on account of their size and excellence. 



In the Sydney market it is now rare to see one weighing so much as 

 twenty pounds, but as we proceed northwards the size gradually increases. 

 The district lying between the Maeleay and Clarence Eivers has long been 

 known to be a most prolific ground for the pursuit of this species, and at the 

 Solitaries, a group of small islands lying about midway between these points 

 they are reported to have been captured of the weight of a hundred pounds ; 

 be this as it may a specimen taken at Lord Howe Island measured forty two 

 inches, and turned the scale at seventy five pounds, while subsequently a 

 mutilated example was brought to the Australian Museum, Sydney, which 

 measured no less than fifty four inches, and would probably, when perfect, 

 have equalled or perhaps exceeded the larger weight.* 



Genus IL— PLECTROPOMA. 



Plectropoma, Cuvier, Eegne. Anim. ; Cuv. & Yal. Hist. Nat. Poiss. ii. p. 

 3S7, 1828. 



Branchiostegals seven : pseudobranchice present. Body oblong. Opercle 

 with two or three flat s])ines : preopercle with the vertical limb serrated, 

 the horizontal limb bearing spinous teeth which are directed forwards. 

 Teeth villiform, with canines in both jaws : vomer and palatines toothed : 

 tongue smooth. One dorsal fin, with from seven to thirteen spines : the 

 anal with three. Scales small or of moderate size, ctenid or eyelid. Pyloric 

 appendages in small numbers. 



Geograpliical distrihution. — About thirty species, many of which are 

 brilliantly ornamented, inhabit the seas of tropical and subtropical regions. 



PLECTEOPOMA ANNULATUM. 



Flectropoma annulaium, Gnth. Catal. Pish. i. p. 158, 1859, and Brenchl. 

 Cruise of the Cura^oa, p. 415, pi. xxviii. fig. B.; Casteln. Proc. Linn. 

 Soc. N. S. Wales, iii. p. 3G9. 



Banded Sea-Perch. 



B. vii. D, 10/18. A. 3/7. V. 1/5. P. 15-16. C. 17. L. lat. 46-18. L. tr. 



7/19-2L Yert. 10/17. 



Length of head 2-50-2-75, of caudal fin 5-75-6-15, height of body 

 2-80-3-00 in the total length. Diameter of eye 4-83-4-75 in the length 

 of the head, and equal to or rather more than that of the snout : interorbital 



* In the Sydney Morning Herald Mr. Philip Cohen asserted, and, notwithstanding that we pointed out 

 the vast difference between the two species, reasserted that this fish grows to a weight of three liundred 

 jMunds and upwards ; any student of zoology can tell that the large fish, to which he refers, is the Giant 

 Icrch, PolDprion-prognathus, more commonly known as OlUjorus gigan. 



