32 NEW SOUTH WALES 



The perch (Lates colonorum) is really a fresh- water fish, but as it is often brought 

 to the Sydney market from Broken Bay and other salt water estuaries after freshes 

 in the rivers, we include it among the coast fishes. It is a very delicious fish, but 

 never attains a great size, and is pei'haps of more value for the sport it aS'ords to 

 the amateur fisherman than as an article of food. — 11. B.C.* 



The percli affords good sport to anglers. It loves quiet, shady, and 

 deep holes in the rivers, but when the tide is flowing it may be caught 

 in the stream. It is very voracious. In winter the bait is a small 

 mullet or herring, or better still one of the large grubs that bores into 

 trees. In the early spring months it will take a moth readily, either 

 sunk or on the surface. The artificial salmon-fly is also a splendid bait 

 for trolling at this time. When moths get scarce a frog is a good bait 

 at night. It must be fastened so that it can swim, or if dead, must be 

 played on the water to imitate a frog swimming. No perch can resist 

 that bait at night. In summer grasshoppers, especially that known as 

 the " Percher," a red species, are good bait, but the best is a black house- 

 cricket or an earthworm. This is a very attractive bait, and if the 

 perch are in a pool, the lines are no sooner down than the bait is taken. 

 For the rest of the year a prawn is the best bait, that is when crickets 

 cannot be got. The bait should be at least 4 feet from the float. In 

 landing the fish great care should be used, as the mouth is weak and is 

 easily torn away. The fishes run from 1 lb. to 7^ lbs. The lai'gest ai*e 

 caught in the holes of tributary streams rather than in the main river. 

 The Hunter River is much frequented by anglers for this species of Lates. 



We have eight other species of Lates, two others being found in New 

 South Wales. The perch of the Ganges and other East Indian rivers 

 (L. calcnrifer) enters freely into brackish water, and extends to the 

 rivers of Queensland. F. Hamilton, in his Account of the Fishes 

 found in the River Ganges, &c. {Edin., 1822, 2 vols., 4to). says of this 

 fish that the vulgar English of Calcutta call it " Cock-up," and that it 

 is one of the lightest and most esteemed food brought to table. Salt 

 water specimens 2 feet in length are the best. 



The Old Wife. 



(Plate II.) 



The "old wife" (Enojilosxis armatus, White) is another fish which from its small 

 size is not esteemed nearly so highly as it ought to be. It is a most exquisite fish. 

 It is caught only in the seine net, and never in great quantitj% but it is found at 

 all seasons, both young and adult, in Port Jackson and all the harbours of the 

 coast.— B.B.C. 



The genus Enoplosus is distinguished by a much elevated body, the 

 depth being still more increased by high vertical fins. All the teeth are 

 viliform, without canines, and are on the tongue as well as all the palate 

 bones. Two dorsal fins, the first ^vith seven spines. Preoperculum 

 serrated with spinous teeth at the angles. Scales of moderate size. 



The species of our coast is the only one of the genus known in 

 N. S. Wales, and it is easily distinguished by the very elevated body, 

 with eight black transverse bands on a whitish ground. 



* The initials E.Il.C. stand for Report of the Royal Commission, which will be 

 constantly referred to. 



