14 



but it seems to come into this harbour full of spawn in mid- 

 summer, and probably deposits its ova on the sandy banks in 

 tolerably deep water. It is probable that the trawl-net will be 

 found of most service in reaching the haunts of this very useful 

 fish, which only requires to be better known to be better appre- 

 ciated.* The ' Flying Gurnets ' — Trigla kunia and polyommata, 

 and Lepidotrigla papilio — are very beautiful and excellent fishes, 

 but very rare and uncertain in their movements. All we know 

 of them is that they are deep-sea fishes, appearing, when they do 

 appear, only in summer." Two species at least breed in Port 

 Jackson, the young being frequently seen in shallow water. — 

 R. R. Com., pp. 1 6, 17. 



Trachinid^. 



The Whitings, Sillago, are perhaps the most highly- 

 prized of all the Australian food-fishes. Four or five 

 species frequent our coasts ; but the principal, and the 

 species most common in our markets, are the " sand- 

 whiting," Sillago maculata, and the trumpeter whiting, 

 Sillago ciliata. The latter is perhaps the more common, 

 and grows to a larger size than the former. They are 

 taken in considerable numbers during the summer months, 

 and all through the year ; but after having deposited their 

 spawn are not considered in season until they have re- 

 covered from this arduous duty. Although occasionally 

 met with in the deep waters of the bays, and sometimes 

 taken with the line, the supply comes from the sandy- 

 shallow flats which they usually frequent, being secured 

 with the seine, and with the trawl the writer has also 



* Since the above was written the " Otter " trawl has been used, 

 with more or less success, in the harbour ; there can be no doubt that, 

 by trawling, large numbers of these useful fishes could be obtained 

 in suitable places along the coast and in the numerous shallow bays 

 and inlets. 



