FISH AND FISHERIES. 11 



purpose of spawning. They are not taken into account in this estimate. 

 " They are," says Giinther, " subject in their distribution to the 

 influences of light and the temperature of the surface water," but they 

 are independent of the variable local conditions which tie the shore fish 

 to its original home. Deep-sea fishes, or those which inhabit great 

 depths so as not to be influenced by light and temperature, do not come 

 into our estimate at all. 



The following are the families of fishes represented more or less 

 numerously in New South Wales, the numbers following being the 

 number of species : — 



Percidie, 50 ; Squamipinnes, 4 ; Nandidse, 2 ; MuUidse, 3 ; SjDa- 

 ridfie, 14 ; Cirrhitidse, 6 ; Scorpsenidse, 11 ; Teuthididre, 2 ; Berycidas, 3 

 Kurtidfe, 2 ; Polynemidre, 2 ; Scisenidje, 2 ; Xiphiid?e, 1 ; Trichiuridse, 

 1 ; Acronuridse, 1 ; Oarangidre, 15 ; Cyttida^, 1 ; Coryphsenida?, 2 

 Scombridas, 10 ; Trachinidse, 5 ; Batrachidje, 1 ; Pediculati, 4 ; Cottidse. 

 7 ; Cataphracti, 1 ; Gobiidse, 15 ; Blenniidpe, 17 ; Sphyrfenidpe, 3 

 Atherinidfe, 4 ; Mugilidse, 7 ; Fistularidse, 1 ; Ophiocephalidfe, 1 

 Trachypteridse, 1; Pomaecentridfe, 4; Labridpe, 18; Gadopsidpe, 1 

 Gadidse. 4 ; Pleuronectidfe, 9 ; Siluridte, 5 ; Scopelidse, 6 ; Salmonidse 

 1 ; Galaxidse, 7 ; Scombresocida?, 6 ; Clupeidae, 1 2 ; Chirocentridfe, 1 

 Symbrachidse, 1; Mura3nid?e, 11; Syngnathidfe, 6; Sclerodermi, 21 

 Gymnodontes, 12 ; Carcharidpe, 8 ; Lamnida?, 1 ; Scyllidse, 3 ; Cestra- 

 ciontidse, 2 ; Spinacidse, 1 ; Bhinidaj, 1 ; Pristiophorida?, 1 ; Phino- 

 batidje, 2 ; Trygonidse, 3 ; Torpedinidse, 1 ; Raiidse, 1. 



Of these 59 families 16 have only 1 species; 8, only 2 species; 5, 

 only 3, and not quite half have more than 3 ; the largest 50, the next 

 14, the average about 6. 



In the above families there are certain genera and species which are 

 peculiar to the southern temj^erate zone. This of course includes all 

 the coasts of islands and the continent south of the tropics. This zone 

 is characterized by a striking feature, which is visible in the molluscan 

 and other marine kingdoms, and is also to a certain extent in the land 

 fauna and flora. It is the reappearance of genera and species which are 

 common in the northern temperate zone. The species are said by Giin- 

 ther to be Chimcera monstrosa, Galeus canis, AcantJiias vulgaris, A. hlain- 

 villeii, Rhina squatina (Angel Shark), The John Dorey (Zpms faher), 

 Lophius 2'>iscatorius, (the Angler-fish) Engraulis enGrassiclwlus, (the 

 Anchovy), Clupea sprattus (the Sprat), Conger vulgaris (Conger eel), 

 Centriscus scolojyax (Trumpet or Bellows fish), found in Tasmania. It 

 must be said however that some of these instances, such as the Sprat 

 and the Anchovy, are of doubtful occurrence, and there are suflicient 

 difi'erences in the John Dorey, and some of the cartilaginoiis fishes, as 

 to make many regard them as distinct species. 



Instances of genera the same as in the northern temjoerate zone are 

 still more abundant, and we have the following on the coast of New 

 South Wales. The Heterodontus, which is found in Japan and Cali- 

 fornia, but also in the tropics (Amboyna), Pristiophorus (saw-sharks, 

 found also in Japan), Raiia or thornbacks, Girella (black-fish), Chilo- 

 dactylus (the long-finned sea perches, found also on the coasts of China 

 and Japan), Sehastes (i"ock-fish), Ajyloactis, Lotella (rock cod), AtdojJus 

 (Sergeant Baker). 



