80 NEW SOUTH WALES 



way, whicli was not successful.* Tlie Government of New South Wales, 

 acting on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Fisheries 

 of New South Wales, lately imported a variety of nets, lines, and fishing 

 implements of the latest and most improved kinds, from England, 

 Norway, and America. Amongst these there were two trawl nets, a 

 large Grimsby beam trawl and an otter trawl of 42 feet width of net. 

 Early in January of this year (1880) a trial of the other trawl was made. 

 The net was put overboard off Middle Head, and was raised in North 

 Harbour, near Manly Beach. It was again lowered at the mouth of 

 Middle Harbour and raised opposite Clontarf. On both occasions the 

 net was quite full. Besides a number of rays and sharks, there were 

 gurnards, gobies, and a large number of Pleuronectidce. The flounder 

 was got in considerable number, though rarely taken in the seine net. 

 (Mr. Macleay thinks that of all European flatfish it nearest approaches 

 is the "Brill," lihomhus Icevis). Other rare flatfishes were found, 

 including a new species of Synaptura and a new genus entitled Lophor- 

 homhis crisfatus. One very large sole and several smaller ones were 

 obtained. So large a capture where such a small space was traversed by 

 the trawl, and in not very deep water, shows what advantages may be 

 expected if trawl-fishing becomes an industry in New South Wales, It 

 was singular, Mr. Macleay remarks, that no species of Wiojnhosolea 

 were found, though represented by many species in Victoria, Tasmania, 

 and the south coasts generally. He predicts moreover that a better 

 acquaintance with the deep-sea fauna, by the aid of the ti'awl net, will 

 prove the existence in the deep-sea currents of species of Rhomhosolea 

 like the 7?. jnonopus (New Zealand), rivalling the European turbot in 

 size and excellence. 



IV.-Ord. PHYSOSTOMI. 



All the fin-rays articulated, first dorsal and pectoral sometimes ossified. 

 Ventrals, if present, abdominal, without spines ; air-bladder, if present, 

 with a pneumatic duct (except in Scombresocid.e). 



SILURIDJE. 



No scales, sometimes osseous scutes, barbels always present ; maxil- 

 lary bone rudimentary, almost always supporting a maxillary barbel. 

 Margin of upper jaw formed by the inter-maxillaries. Suboperculum 

 absent. Air-bladder present, generally communicating with the organ 

 of hearing by ossicles, an adipose fin, or none. 



There are several species of Silimdm in these seas, the most common in Port 

 Jackson being the "cat-fish" {Cnidoglanis megastoma, Richardson). Though an 

 excellent fish it is very seldom eaten ; the prejudice existing against the whole 

 family being almost universal among Europeans. It is frequently taken in the net 

 on the muddy beaches of the harbour. — R.R.C. 



^' The substance of these remarks is contained in a paper read before the Linnean 

 Society of New South Wales, in January, 1882, and published in the 7th volume 

 of the Proceedings. 



