188 SPOLTA ZEYLANICA. 



death against the Samanalakanda or Butterfly Rock. I have seen 

 them, however, in the month of December (1907) flying across the 

 Labugama Reservoir away from the direction gf Adam's Peak, 

 being pursued by numerous PhiUppine Bee-eaters at noontime. 

 Owing to their rapid zigzag flight the birds found considerable 

 difficulty in catching them on the wing, often missing. When one 

 had been caught, the bird would fly away with it to a tree, not 

 bolting it outright. Amongst the bee-eaters was to be seen an 

 occasional Ashy Wood Swallow, also hawking over the reservoir. 



A. WILLEY. 



2. Review : Fisheries of New South Wales.— In view of the 

 interest which is being displayed in the local fisheries, it may be 

 useful to append some extracts from the report of the Board of 

 Fisheries of New South Wales for the year 1907, which has been 

 received at the Museum by the courtesy of the authorities. 



The subject matter may be divided into three main sections : 

 statistical, restrictive, and constructive. As in all cases where the 

 State takes cognizance of the fisheries, the utility of recording 

 returns of the catches is recognized. A return compiled from 

 " Weekly Statements furnished by Fish Agents in the Metropolitan 

 Markets " shows the quantity of fish received by them for sale. 

 The form of return includes the following headings : — Name of 

 Water, Name of Market, Description of Fish (classified as fish ; 

 " crayfish," by which is meant the spiny lobster or Langouste, 

 Palinurus hugelii ; lastly, prawns). The total quantities for 1906 

 and 1907 are — 



Clarence river i^ the leading water, with an output of 23,737 

 baskets of fish ; Port Jackson and Parramatta river yielded only 

 3,559 baskets of fish, 61 dozens (ft crayfish, and 228 baskets of 

 prawns in 1907. Lake lUawarra contributed 5,294 baskets of fish, 

 3 dozens of crayfish, and 2,916 baskets of prawns. Hastings river 

 furnished 3,037 baskets of fish, 2,833 dozens of crayfish, and 20 

 baskets of prawns. The average price of crayfish in the market is 

 estimated at 8 shilhngs per dozen. 



The numbers quoted above are from the Sydney market returns, 

 and do not include quantities consumed elsewhere. Thus, the report 

 of the Inspector of Fisheries for the Northern District shows that 

 the total catch from the Hastings river waters was 5,451 baskets 



