FISH AND FISHEEIES. 93 



modestum ; Orossorhinus harbatus, Wobbegong ; C. tentaculatus (at 

 Cape York), Heterodontus Fhilipi, Port Jackson Cestracion or shark ; 

 H. gcdeatus ; Acanthias hlanvillei, A. megalops, Isistius hraziliensis, 

 Rhina sq^iatina, Angel-fish or shark ; Pristiojihorus cirratus, Saw-fish 

 shark, F. nudipinnis, Rhinohatus yranulatus, blind or sand shark. 



In this list some of the species named have not been found at Port 

 Jackson. They are representative species, which are, as far as known, 

 confined to peculiar localities. 



Some of Mr. Hill's remarks on these fishes are of such interest that 

 an account of our fisheries would not be complete without at least a 

 portion of them. 



The Sea Shark. 



Of Carcharias gangeticus he says : — " This is about the largest of the 

 sea sharks, and, like all sharks, ravenous to a degree at times. It 

 arrives in this harbour about February, but at times later, in March, 

 just according to the migrations of the sea-mullet, of which notice has 

 been already taken. With these fishes it is found, and no doubt preys 

 on them to an enormous degree. 



"At this season — February, Mai'ch, and April — it goes up the har- 

 bours and rivers, and may occasionally be caught with a very stout line 

 and hook or harpoon. It is of great strength, and would pull a large 

 boat about with ease. The sea shark gorges and gets rid of a great 

 quantity of food, and one was caught in this harbour containing in its 

 stomach (as far as my memory serves) the hind leg of a horse, from the 

 hock downwards, with a shoe on the foot, eight or nine unsound mutton 

 hams tied up in a gunny-bag, two ship's scrapers, and some sundries ; 

 notwitbstanding all these he was ready to take more, and was cap- 

 tured. 



" These cartilaginous fishes are very troublesome to fishermen outside 

 the Heads, and frequently cause the men to leave the ground. It is 

 astonishing to find how readily they will bite oif the schnapper from the 

 hook as you are hauling it in, leaving the head or perhaps the head and 

 shoulders alone. Certain it is there are plenty of schnappers about 

 them, and during the time you are fast to a shark the others would be 

 diligent with their lines, as the fishes bite well at that time. I only 

 wonder that sea-bathers are not more frequently bitten about February 

 and March, as then they are very voracious and numerous. At the 

 Figtree Baths a huge dog was purposely drowned. A sea shark coming 

 by that way seized the dog by the middle, gave him a shake or two, 

 and then swallowed him, and was afterwards swimming about with the 

 appendage of a large stone hanging to his mouth. This did not appear 

 to give him much trouble, for he was looking about for more food, and 

 stood a few rattles on the head with an oar before he would retire to 

 deeper water. 



" The liver occupies a gi-eat space inside the shark, and is of value, 

 for it yields a considerable quantity of oil which may be either I'olled 

 or boiled out ; the oil from the former method is said to be of the 

 better colour and gives less trouble. Tho other part of the shark is 

 turned to no advantage generally, but the fins and tail, when cured and 



