EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 107 



unspotted, and narrowly edged below with white ; pectorals grayish, thickly 

 freckled, with reddish-brown ; ventrals similar, but with much larger spots, 

 and with the spine and a narrow margin white ; anal white. 



Of the several species of Flathead inhabiting the seas of x^ew South Wales 

 not one can claim any title to commercial rank except the one which is here 

 described and figured. 



So far as our own observation goes, the main body of the Tlatheads, con- 

 signed to the Sydney market from the coast line between Shoalhaven to the 

 south and Lake Macquarie to the north, shed their ova during the two first 

 months of the year, aud this is generally in accordance with the evidence given 

 before the Royal Commission. Writing from Twofold Bay, under date 

 February, 18S0, Mr. Grlover states : — " Flathead are plentiful here all the 

 year round in the shallower parts of the bay. They are caught with hook 

 and line, and they spawn, I think, about March, as they are very full of ova 

 now, and I have caught very small ones soon after March. The fish spawn 

 in the usual fishing places and the spawn lies loose." This notice must, 

 however, be considered as possibly applying to PlafycepJialus hassensis and 

 P. IcBviqatus as well as to the present species. In the Clarence Eiver the 

 date of spawning is said to be January, February, aud March. The ova are 

 deposited on sand or mud banks in water of a moderate depth. 



The flesh of the Flathead is of excellent quality, firm, flaky, and well 

 flavored; in fact all the species must be ranked among our best food fishes; 

 its appearance is unfortunately somewhat against it, but once the prejudice 

 excited by this is overcome, it will not intentionally be cast aside in future. 

 Being essentially a ground fish its food principally consists of squid, prawns, 

 and other crustaceans, worms, and smaller fishes ; among the latter we have 

 recognised Callioirymi, a Pefroscirtes, young Fseudorhomll, Stir/matopliora, 

 and in a large specimen an eight inches example of its own species. 



Though properly a marine fish inhabiting sand and mud banks at a 

 moderate depth in our bays and estuaries, the Flathead is also found on the 

 shelving and sandy tracts of our ocean shores to the depth of at least 80 

 fathoms, but it is needless to say that, until the trawl net comes into general 

 use, these valuable fishing grounds must remain idle ; this fish does not, 

 however, confine itself solely to salt water, as it is well known to ascend 

 many of our rivers far above the influence of the tide, and Tenison Woods 

 remarks that '' P.fusciis comes up the Hunter Eiver as far as West Mait- 

 land, where it is caught abundantly by the angle7's in summer." 



They are considerable contributors ito the sport of the amateur line fisher, 

 the most sportsmanlike method of capturing them being to allow the boat to 

 drift with the tide broad side on across a bank, when, if the fish be plentiful 

 on the ground, good sport, with the not unpleasant resultant of a large 

 number of excellent table fish, may frequently be obtained ; unfortunately, 

 where fish are plentiful sharks are rarely distant, and many a good hour's 

 fishing is spoiled by these pests ; the writer formed one of a boat's crew which 

 decided to drift over a well known bank in the hope of making a material 

 and welcome accession to their Christmas dinner ; all went favorably for the 

 first five minutes when half a dozen fine Flathead had been brought to bag ; 

 then the School Sharks {QaJeus) made their appearance, and not another fish 

 was caught. Mr. Hill, writing of Flathead fishing, remarks : — "They are 

 ground fishes, and bite freely in the summer season, but retire into deeper 

 water during the colder months of the year, where they might also be caught 

 with the line. Of a calm day it is usual to let the boat drift OA^er the ground 

 which is generally sandy, when occasionally they bite freely. I have often 

 known fifteen or twenty dozens hauled up as fast as the lines could be put 



