78 NEW SOUTH WALES 



The following is the experience of Mr. E. Hill in capturing these 

 fish : — •" The flounder and sole are the only representatives, so far as we 

 know, in our Australian waters. It was at one time alleged by a French 

 officer visiting this country that he had caught a turbot while off Sydney- 

 Heads. Some years subsequent the late Sir W. Denison and Sir Daniel 

 Cooper fitted out a trawling expedition along the coast. A vessel of over 

 100 tons was placed at their disposal by Messrs. Broomfield and Whit- 

 taker, of this city, manned by the ordinary crew, together with a number 

 of additional hands placed on board by Captain Denham, of H.M. ship 

 " Herald," under chai^ge of Captain Hixson, our present Superintendent 

 of Pilots, who, together with thewi-iter and Captain Broomfield, proceeded 

 to the scenes of operation, which extended from Broken' Bay on the 

 north to Jervis Bay on the south, and which voyage lasted over twenty- 

 eight days, without any result for the fish sought, although thousands of 

 fishes were caught during the time, including the flounder and the sole, 

 but no turbot. 



" The flounder is not very abundant, and is caught by line and hook 

 as well as by net. With line and hook they have been frequently 

 caught over towards Manly Beach, and on the Sow and Pigs sandspit, 

 as well as at other places in the harbour. Botany Bay also affords some 

 particular spots where they are most likely to be ; but there is little or 

 no certainty of catching a flounder at any time — they come in promis- 

 cuously. 



" The sole is one of those rare fishes of this Colony that the flounder 

 is very frequently made to take its place. ' Pay your money and have 

 your choice.' Call it either flounder or sole, as you please. There are 

 few who know the distinguishing features between flounder and sole, but 

 many recognize the distinction when they have them together. 



"The flounder takes a bait as he is swimming, and is armed with rather 

 formidable teeth set in a mouth across. The sole will not take a bait, 

 nor does he feed except only when perfectly flat on the ground, dark 

 side up, and generally with sand and debris to the eyes, leaving his 

 mouth, which is formed very like the letter S and without perceptible 

 teeth, free to take in food. 



"The usual or only method of taking the sole is by spear during the 

 calm mornings of winter when the water is clear ; the slightest ripple is 

 a serious obstacle. This is sometimes overcome by a little grease or oQ 

 on the surface of the water, and it is usual to take a piece of fat meat 

 for that purpose. The spear should have but one fine steel prong, with 

 which you probe the sand on their feeding patches, and when the fish is 

 pierced it makes no resistance, and is easily brought to the surface. Very 

 frequently two are pierced and brought up at the same time, and in one 

 or two instances I have seen three brought in with one probe by striking 

 the spot where they had accidentally over-lain each other in the feeding 

 patch. 



" The sole of this country is a very delicious fish when propei-ly cooked. 

 No dependence, however, is to be placed in the certainty of a catch, and 

 I know of no grounds more likely than that of Cook's River chann3l above 

 the Waterworks, or the Wallanora, up George's River ; at this latter place 

 I have been successful, having taken in one morning over 100 pair." 



