PISH AND FISHERIES. 35 



The Bull's-eye. 



Priacanthus. a well-marked genus, easily recognized without 

 direct relation to other percoid genera. The body is short, compressed, 

 covered with small rough scales, which extend also over the short snout. 

 Lower jaw and chin prominent. Eye, large. All the teeth villiform, 

 and present on the vomer and palatine bones. One dorsal with ten 

 spines, anal with three. Pre-operculum serrated, with a more or less 

 flat triangular spine at the angle. (G.S.F.) 



The "bull's-eye" of the fishermen — Priacanthus macracanthus of Cuv. and 

 Val., is a fairly good edible fisli. It comes into the harbour in considerable 

 shoals in the latter end of summer or beginning of winter, some occasionally 

 appearing as early as January. Its visits are probably made for spawning 

 purposes, but we have no direct evidence to that effect, and we cannot iind that 

 the young fry are ever seen. The scarcity and irregularity of the supply causes 

 this fish to be little cared for by the dealers. It is frequently mistaken for the 

 " nannygai. " — R.R.C. 



This species may be known by its large eye, which is more than one- 

 third of the diameter of the head. The ventral fins are long. The 

 colour is of a light silvery grey with a pinkish tint. The head is pink 

 and the belly silvery. Fins of a reddish pink, ventrals red, the back 

 part of the dorsal, anal, and ventral fins having two rounded dark 

 spots on each membrane ; end of the caudal rather dark. Length, 

 eight to twelve inches. Mouth extensible. In some respects this fish 

 might be confounded with Anthias longimanus by inexperienced 

 observers, but the colour and the eye will easily distinguish it. 



The Salmon. 



(Plate V.) 



Arripis. Body oblong, covered with scales of a moderate size. All 

 the teeth villiform, without canines, Teeth on the vomer and palatine 

 bones. One dorsal fin with nine slender spines, anal Avith three, pre- 

 operculum denticulated. 



Arripis salar. Giinth. Cat. Fish. Is in the adult state the salmon 

 of the Australian fishermen, and their salmon trout is the young. It is 

 of a greenish lead colour, with the upper part of the head a deep 

 black ; on the upper part of the body are numerous ii'regular black 

 spots. The operculum and the end of the pectorals are usually tinged 

 with yellow. Its length is sometimes over 22 inches. The young 

 specimens are of an olive green on the upper parts, with the sides and 

 lower parts of a silvery white. On the sides and upper surface extend 

 three or four longitudinal lines of rather large rounded and golden spots, 

 numbering from fourteen to nineteen on each line. Dorsal fin transparent 

 and bordered with black, caudal yellow, with its terminal part black, 

 anal and ventrals white, pectoi'als yellow, sides of the head and eye of a 

 bright yellow. This is the most common of all Victorian fishes, and the 

 young only take the adult livery when they are at least a foot long. 

 During the cold months of winter the adults are hardly ever seen, but 

 they are common in the summer. In Victoria and South Australia 

 several distinct cases of fish-poisoning have been traced to this species. 



