58 EDIBLE PISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Colors. — Silvery, tlie back waslied with purple : a broad purple transverse 

 baud, wliicb becomes incouKspicuous with age, from the origin of the dorsal, 

 across the shoulder and posterior lobe of the opercle, but not reaching the 

 pectoral fin. 

 . Both the Eeport of the Eoyal Commission on Eisheries and Tenison 

 Yv^oods' "Fisheries of New South Wales" are responsible for the confusion 

 which exists concerning the three very distinct species included in this work ; 

 these three species are fully recognised as distinct by the professional fisher- 

 men, not as a rule very discriminating authorities, under the names of 

 " Morwong," " Jackassfish," and " Carp," and it is hoped that all such con- 

 fusion as to the identity of the fishes so named will now be set at rest. 



This species is equally as scarce as the preceding in our markets, and like 

 it is only an accidental capture in an adult state on the Snapper-grounds ; 

 one reason for this immunity from capture is that, not being by habits a 

 rock loving fish, it does not habitually frequent the ocean reefs, as do the 

 Snapper and kindred fishes, but prefers a sandy bottom at a moderate depth, 

 while another reason which might be deduced from the contents of the 

 stomachs of many specimens of all three s])ecies examined, taken in con- 

 junction with the weak dentition, and especially with the absence of teeth 

 on the roof of the mouth, leads inevitably to the conclusion that the baits 

 in use are quite unsuitable to the fishes of this genus. 



In a fresh specimen, sent for identification to the Australian Museum 

 during the month of August, the ova appeared to be about one third 

 developed, but since other specimens caught during the same and the two 

 following months showed no symptoms of spawning, Ave must again acknow- 

 ledge our inability to fix the date of the performance of this important 

 function. Though abundant on the shores of Tasmania and New Zealand 

 neither Messrs. Johnston or Sherrin refer to this subject ; the former, how- 

 ever, remarks : — " It is most probable that the mature fish spawn in five to 

 six fathoms of water; that, like the Trumpeters (Lafris), the young 

 immediately after seek the upper shallow banks of estuaries, remaining 

 there until they are halfgrown, when they again gradually return to the 

 parent ground, toward the mouth of the estuaries." 



As food in a fresh state they are excellent, and according to the Eeport of 

 the Eoyal Commission they " are equal to Cod or Ling for salting" ; this 

 statement is possibly correct, but needs verifying, since they are too scarce 

 in this Colony to admit of any practical experiment being attempted, while 

 in the two above mentioned, Avhere they are abundant, no special industry 

 of the sort is noted by their historians. As with G. carponemiis its food 

 consists of small molluscs and' crustaceans, mdxed with polyzoa and similiar 

 minute organisms. 



These fishes are usually taken by hook and line, and where plentiful 

 afford good sport. " In the various bays in the immediate vicinity of 

 Hobart " Johnston writes, " the young Silver Perch, seven to eight inches 

 long, afford ample sport to amateur fishermen. The fish take bait readily — 

 the mussel, boiled, being a favorite ; and during the months of March, 

 April, and May, it is not uncommon for a party of two or three persons to 

 catch from ten to twenty dozen in a couple of hours " ; and again : — 

 " Although some are caught in nets with the Bastard Trumpeter they are 

 usually caught by hook and line." On the same subject Hector writes : — 

 " Throughout the whole year the Tarakihi may be caught with the hook in 

 ten to twenty five fathoms water Avith a sandy bottom." 



The range of this species is considerable ; in the British Museum Cata- 

 logue it is given as " Australian Seas," but Ave liaAe no evidence AvhateA'er of 



