84 NEW SOUTH WALES 



The Garfish. 



(Plates XXXVII and XXXVIII.) 



JS'emirhamph'ns intertnedius, Cant. (Plate XXXVII upper fig.) has a 

 dark greenish back, with a well defined silvery band on the upper sides. 

 H. regidaris, Giinth. (Plate XXVIl lower fig.) (the river garfish of the 

 fishermen). The two species may be readily distinguished by the small 

 triangular upper jaw being in one (intermedius) longer than broad, and 

 in the other irregularis) broader than long. In H. intermeduts also the 

 scales are so very deciduous that the fishes generally appear to be with- 

 out any. H. commersoni, Cuv., has four rounded blackish blotches on 

 the sides. H. argenteus, Beun., has a very short beak. According to 

 Mr. Hill, " the garfish, or among professional fishermen ballahoo, is 

 another of the delicate fishes of this Colony, and one which is known 

 and recognized for its good qualities b}^ every one who has lived in the 

 city of Sydney, or throughout the length and breadth of the country. 

 These fishes come into the harbour at various stages of growth, and may 

 be found from the size of sail-needles to adults of 15 or 18 inches long. 

 January and February are the months when they may be seen plentiful 

 of mixed sizes, but by a wise enactment of the law nets only of a par- 

 ticular gauge ill the meshes are allowed to be fished with, to prevent the 

 wholesale destruction which used to go on in former years, when 

 millions of the smaller and useless garfishes were hauled on to the shore 

 to perish. 



" On the 1st of April, however, that restriction is taken off, at which 

 time nets with meshes of a suitable size are substituted, and we may 

 then expect a fair supply to the market, as our harbours are now 

 teeming with them, and the season extends into the winter months." 



None of the true Flying Fishes are caught near Port Jackson, but 

 they may be seen in summer months on the more northerly portions of 

 the coasts of New South Wales. 



A great many families must now be passed over, as they include none 

 of commercial importance to Australia. There are no true Salmonidce 

 known in any of our waters, but Salmon and Salmon Trout have been 

 successfully introduced. An attempt has been made in Tasmania to 

 acclimatize Sahno jjurpuratus, as well as Salmo scdar, S.fmio, the Trout, 

 and S. trutta, the Bull Trout or Salmon Trout. So far the experiment 

 may be said to be pending. Whether S. solar is really acclimatized or 

 not is still doubted by some, though for no good reason, the largest 

 specimens, over 10 lbs. which I have seen caught wei'e certainly true 

 Salmon, according to the opinion of the most expei-ienced persons in 

 Tasmania. The whole evidence on this question will be stated further 

 on in connection with acclimatization of Fishes. 



CLUPEID^, or Herrings. 



Body covered with scales, head naked, no barbels, abdomen frequently 

 compressed intc a serrated edge. Margin of upper jaw formed by the 

 intermaxillaries mesially, and maxillaries latei'ally, the latter composed 

 of at least three movable pieces. Opercular apparatus complete, no 

 adipose fin, dorsal moderate, anal sometimes very long. Stomach with 



