EDIBLE PISHES OP NEW SOUTH WALES. 53 



tlieir manner of taking a bait that gentleman remarks : — " They pick it up 

 and rush oS at full tilt (no nibbling with them), and pull hard and sheer 

 about, with a full determination if possible to get away." Tenison Woods 

 also bears witness to their value to the angler in the following words : — " It 

 affords excellent sport to anglers in Victoria. The author remembers in 

 January, 1S60, catching an immense quantity with a line in the Gflenelg 

 River, Victoria, where the river was little more than brackish, though not 

 far from the mouth. The bait used was a small crab, and no sooner was 

 the line down than the hook was swallowed," McCoy remarks : — •" The 

 Bream is the chief sport of amateur fishermen, who catch great quantities 

 by rod and line in the brackish water of the mouths of the rivers and creeks 

 and sea entrances of the G-ippsland Lakes, which they enter during the 

 summer months, spawning there about November and December. They go- 

 down to the sea again about the end of June, when the cold weather comes 

 on, and may be caught in the sea, commonly about the ends of piers, with 

 rod and line during the winter months. The bait is usually small fish, or 

 small shrimps, or worms. The fish is moderately good for the table, except 

 at spring time, when the flesh becomes flabby and the colors dull." 



The Black Bream is quite as valuable a species as its congener P. itnicolor, 

 for where that species, from the high prices which it commands in the 

 market, owing to the limited suj^ply, is of great value to the moneyed classes, 

 the present comes in such numbers that the low prices (as prices run in 

 Sydney) at which it is sold place it within reach of every householder. 



It is a wholesome, nutritious, and well flavored fish, and is a general, 

 favorite with all. The stomachs of a number lately examined contained 

 small fishes, among which could be detected a Cristiceps and a Sillago, 

 crustaceans, molluscs such as Limpets, brittle-stars, worms, and Sertulariaj. 



The Black Bream inhabits the coasts of Australia, Tasmania, and southern 

 New Gruinea. On our coast it is very abundant, and ascends rivers as far 

 as the influence of the tide extends, and sometimes, if not habitually, aboA^e 

 that point. It is also abundant in Victorian waters ; refering to that 

 colony Castelnau says: — "This fish is one of the most common in the 

 Melbourne market throughout all seasons of the year. It is esteemed as 

 food, but never attains to a laj-ge size, the longest specimens being about 

 twelve inches. The Australian Bream is a sea fish, but often enters the 

 rivers, and is common in the Lower Yarra and also in the Gippsland Lakes." 

 Johnston remarks: — "The Silver Bream enters the brackish waters of creeks 

 and rivers during the summer months in considerable numbers. They 

 subsist chiefly upon crabs and other hard shelled animals, which abound in 

 such places. They are supposed to shed their spawn in the brackish shallows 

 during the months of November and December, returning to the sea before 

 the close of .Tune." Specimens are in tlie South Kensington Museum, 

 taken in fresh water, from the Harvey Eiver, West Australia, and a skin is 

 also deposited there from Port Essington. 



The average size of this fish may be placed at twelve inches, but much 

 larger examples are common. The largest personally examined was caught 

 in Port Jackson, and measured nineteen inches.. 



Family IX.— CIREHITID^. 



Branchiostegals normally six, in one genus {JSfemadacfylus) three: pseudo- 

 branchise present. Body oblong or oblong-ovate, compressed. Eyes of 

 moderate size, lateral. Mouth in front of the snout, with lateral cleft. 

 Cheeks not cuirassed. Dentition variable, generally consisting of small teeth 



