FISH AND FISHERIES. 61 



connected by a membrane, no finlets. Tlie second dorsal and anal 

 covered with very small scales. Our species, Temnodon saltator, Cuv. 

 and Val. (Plate XX), has a bluish, lead, or olive colour above, and silvery 

 beneath. The maxillary bone reaches to a line drawn from the posterior 

 margin of the eye, preoperculum with a notch above the angle and 

 denticulations on the lower part. Dorsal spines very feeble. Of this 

 species Giinther remarks (Gr. S. F., p. 447) that it is found over all 

 tropical and subtropical coasts, but is also met in the open sea. On the 

 coasts of the United States it is known as the Blue-tish, being highly 

 esteemed as food and furnishing excellent sport. It is one of the most 

 rapacious of fishes, killing many more than it devours. It grows to a 

 length of 5 feet, but the majority of those brought to market are not 

 half that length (Giinthei-). It is called skip-jack in Melbourne, which 

 is also a name by which it is known in Ameiica and Britain. 



Mr. Oliver informs me that this fish is very destructive to the fisher- 

 men's nets. A school of " tailors" enclosed in a seine generally involves 

 wholesale destruction to the net. After such a haul a considerable 

 expenditure of time and twine are necessary to repair the i^ents made 

 by the sharp teeth of these very active and determined fish. Instances 

 have been known where the entire bunt of a net has been toi'n to shreds 

 by a few dozen sea tailors, whose vocation is the reverse of their land 

 namesakes. The name " sea tailors" expresses the approach to the 

 skip-jack size. Though Dr. Giinther is the authority for tailors 5 feet 

 long, 3 feet is an unusual size for those found in the South Seas. 



The Bat-fish (Psettus argenteiis, L., Plate XLV) belongs to this family, 

 and is occasionally caught at Port Jackson. 



Fam. CYTTIDiE. 



Body elevated, compressed, covered with small scales, bucklers, or 

 naked, teeth conical, small dorsal fin of two distinct portions. Ventrals 

 thoracic. Gill opening wide. Marine fishes of temperate latitudes, 

 the only genus of which is Zei(,s, or John Dory. Our species is Zeus 

 austirUis, Plate XY, which Dr. Giinther regards as identical with the 

 Z.faher of Europe. The genus is distinguished by a series of bony 

 plates along the base of the dorsal and anal fins, and another series on 

 the abdomen. These fishes are regarded as excellent for the table. 

 "The name seems to be a corruption of the Gascon ' Jau' cock, Dory 

 being derived from the French, so that the entire name means gilt-cock." 

 — G. S. F. The name of Gallo, which it has in other places, confii-ms 

 this. 



The John Dory. 



(Plate XXI.) 



Among the other groups there is one fish of great value — the "John Dory" 

 {Zeus misfralis). It is in every respect apparently the same as the John Dory 

 of Europe {Zeus/aher), and by some is regarded as the same fish. It is a ground 

 fish, living on sandy banks and flats in moderately deep water. It enters Port 

 Jackson in the summer months and is then full of roe. It is generally looked 

 upon as a rare fish, but its rarity is pi-obably owing to its being difficult to capture, 

 the seine, even where its haunts can be got at, not taking sufficient hold of the 

 ground to enclose it. The trawl would probably be found a more certain mode of 

 capture. The excellence of this fish is universally admitted. — R.R.C. 



