the former) which is at present smoked. This branch of the 

 industry alone is capable of enormous expansion ; and there 

 are fishes, such as the abundant Cowanyung {Decapterus 

 leptosomiis) which, though they " take the smoke " admirably 

 and make a first-class product, are practically untouched. 



Along with any increase in our fisheries should go the 

 establishment of fish-oil and fish fertiliser factories ; for which 

 there are great possibilities in our country. (In this connec- 

 tion I would refer the reader to the chapter on " Fish 

 Economics " in my " Fishes of Australia," where the matter 

 has been more fuhy dealt with.) In connection herewith, 

 also, mention should be made of the great use which might 

 be made of the gi-eat hordes of predaceous sharks which 

 frequent our shores in the warmer months. Not only would 

 this refer to the production of oil and fertiliser, but to the 

 use of the skins and also of the fins, in which there is really 

 quite an insignificant trade at present. 



Much more might be written here, but as it is my purpose 

 to give only a brief review of the matter, and there are other 

 important branches of the fisheries to deal with, I must 

 pass on. Before doing so, however, it will be useful, as well as 

 of general interest, to give a few authentic records of catches 

 of some of our edible fishes at various times, during the last 

 few years. These are taken from the weekly reports of the 

 various Inspectors of the Department of Fisheries*, and they 

 refer in each case to the product of one haul, or draw of the 

 net, only. 



* The reports here referred to were initiated by me, under the Board 

 of Fisheries in 1902. As I will be able to show at no distant date, 

 I hope, they contain a great mass of valuable data referring to the 

 periodicity, movements, breeding habits, &c., of our fishes. The 

 complete working up of the material, will, however, take some time. 



