FISH AND FISHERIES. 37 



II.— Fam. ACANTHOPTERYGII PEECIFOMES- 

 SQUAMIPINNES. 



Body compressed and elevated, covex-ed with scales, either finely 

 ctenoid or smooth. Lateral line continuous, but not extended over the 

 caudal fin. Mouth in front of the snout, generally small, with lateral 

 cleft ; teeth villiform or setiform, in bands without canines or incisors. 

 Dorsal fin consisting of a spinous and soft portion of neai'ly equal 

 development, anal with three or four spines, developed similarly to the 

 soft dorsal, both many-rayed. Vertical fins more or less densely covered 

 with small scales. Lower rays of pectoral branched, not enlarged, ven- 

 trals thoracic with one spine and five soft rays. Stomach coecal. Eye 

 lateral, of moderate size. 



The name of this family will give an easy clue to its identification. 

 It means scaly-finned. The soft and frequently the spiny portions of 

 the dorsal and anal fins are so densely covered with scales that the boun- 

 dary between where the fin begins and the body ends is quite obscured. 

 The species are generally small, and distinguished for the extraordinary 

 variety and beauty of their colours, including such well-known forms 

 as the Ch(jetodo7is, of which two are found in Port Jackson. 



It is said that all the family are carnivorous, and the " Sweep" 

 is no exception. It can be caught with almost any bait. Mr. Oliver 

 says, that he has caught thousands with a live or meat bait. But the 

 odd thing in Sweep fishing is that in nine cases out of ten they are 

 hooked foul. The neighbourhood of coral reefs abounds in forms of this 

 beautiful group. 



The Sweep. 



(Plate YI.) 



This is one of a very numerous tropical family of fishes, remarkable for ecceutricity 

 of form and variety of marking, but the temperate coast of New South Wales can 

 boast of only a few species, and of these one only, the " sweep" ( Scorpis cegnipennis), 

 can claim recognition among our edible fishes. It is not much thought of, yet at 

 times it is brought to market in considerable quantities, and finds consumers at 

 fair prices. The schooling season is midsummer, and the spawn is probably 

 deposited in the harbour, as the young sweeps are frequently caught in the seine. 

 The air-bladder is said to be large in this fish, so that it may be found to be valu- 

 able as an isinglass producer. It is seldom caught except in the seine, and is 

 probably entirely a vegetable feeder. — R.R.C. 



The species thus referred to is described as having the family chai-acters, 

 with a moderate snout. Dorsal fin with nine or ten spines, anal with 

 three, and the soft portions of both densely scaly. Jaws with an outer 

 series of stronger teeth : teeth also on the vomer and palatine bones. 

 Seven branchiostegals, air-bladder present, pyloric appendages very 

 numerous. Lower margin of the preoperculum finely serrated. The 

 dorsal and anal fins not falcate, the rays becoming sliorter postei'iorly. 

 Colour uniform brownish black. 



