FISH AND FISHERIES. 43 



their Vivaria, and the inventor of these Vivaria was named Grata, from 

 this fish. It grows extremely fat in artificial ponds. Duhamel states 

 that it stirs up the sand with the tail so to get at the shell fish. It is 

 extremely fond of mussels, and often makes its presence known by the 

 noise caused in breaking in the shells with its broad teeth. (G.S.F.) 

 These facts may give a clue to the habits of our own species. 



We have two species in Australia, as already noticed. The Black 

 Bream, C. australis, O-nrith., and the Tarwhine. C. sarba, Forsk., C. 

 hasta, Bleek., is a common fish in India and China, entering all the large 

 rivers. It was supposed by Mr. Hill to be our common species, but 

 Giinther has shown that they are distinct. The Australian Bream, Plate 

 VI, is as common on the south as on the east coast. It affords excel- 

 lent sport to anglers in Victoria. The author remembers in Januaiy, 1860, 

 catching an immense quantity with a line in the Glenelg River, Victoria, 

 where the river was little more than brackish, though not far from the 

 mouth. The bait used was a small crab, and no sooner was the line 

 down than the hook was swallowed. The sport was only terminated 

 when all the hooks were destroyed, for these ravenous fishes broke them 

 with their hard teeth. As a food-fish it has good qualities, and is very 

 abundant, but never more than about a foot in length. 



It is somewhat diflScult to distinguish between the two species, so 

 the definitions of both are given, C. sarba has the height of- the body 

 nearly two-thirds of the length, and the head is one-fourth. The distance 

 between the eyes is rather more than then* diameter. Incisors broad, 

 obtuse, the molars in great number, forming four series in both jaws, 

 and a large ovate molar behind. Dorsal spine, moderate, rather 

 compressed, broader on one side, the fourth longest, second and third anal 

 spines nearly equal. Silvery in colour, with about fourteen indistinct 

 longitudinal streaks. 



C. australis has the body proportionately slightly higher, and the eye 

 a little longer. The dorsal spines are stronger. The second anal spine 

 is very strong, and equal to the fourth dorsal in length. There are five 

 series of scales between the preorbital and the angle of the operculum. 

 Colour, silvery and grey on the upper parts. There is a slight brown 

 transverse band on the forehead ; dorsal, hyaline, bordei*ed with black ; 

 caudal rather yellow, with a dark extei'nal border ; anal either yellow 

 or dark ; ventrals yellow, or in part blue. Whole body with shining 

 longitudinal streaks, but this character is often absent from the 

 Victorian specimens. 



The " black bream" (C/ir//.sop7(7-ys amtralis) and the "tarwhine" (Clirysophrijs 

 hasta) are both excellent fishes, and are frequently abundant. The schooling 

 season seems to be summer with both species, but where or when they spawn has 

 not been ascertained. They have been occasionally caught outside on the 

 schnapper grounds, but their chief resort is evidently the harbours and lakes along 

 the coast, where they are taken in the seine in great numbers. In Port Jackson 

 line-fishing for " black bream" is a very favourite sport. — R.R.C. 



The Silver Bream or Silver-belly. 



Mr. Hill, in the series of essays already referred to, speaks of a silver 

 bream or white bream. It is probable he refers to Gerres ovatus, a 

 common fish of very compressed form, and very protractile mouth. 



