15 



secured many fine fish. A curious habit of both species 

 {Sillago maadata and 5. ciliata) is perhaps worth mention- 

 ing — when, finding themselves enclosed by the seine, they 

 burrow in the sand sufficiently deep to allow the nets to 

 pass over them. My informant, Mr. W. Brown, assures me 

 that, after the drawing up of the seine, he has taken two or 

 three dozen fine fish from the sand, feeling them with the 

 feet at first, and then simply securing them with the hand ; 

 this is probably the origin of the local name of "sand- 

 whiting." The following are extracts from the Report of 

 the Royal Commission, p. i8: — 



" There are in all four Australian species. The Common Sand- 

 Whiting, Sillago macu/afa, abundant on the New South Wales 

 coast ; the Trumpeter Whiting, Sillago basseiisis, also abundant 

 here ; and the most common species in Brisbane is Sillago punc- 

 tata, the Whiting of Melbourne, and rare on this coast." " The 

 first of these, the ' Sand-Whiting,' is by far the most important as 

 an article of food. It is perhaps in more general use even than 

 the Schnapper, constituting almost all through the year the most 

 generally used breakfast fish we have. Of its excellent quality, 

 when in good condition and in the proper season, there cannot 

 be a doubt ; but the great favour in which it is held induces, we 

 fear, its extensive use at times when it ceases to be good, and 

 may probably be unwholesome. It is in best condition when it 

 first appears to come in from the sea, about the middle or latter 

 end of summer. It is then a large clean fish, with the roe formed 

 but not full-sized, and it continues in its excellent condition until 

 the roe has attained full maturity or been shed. This occurs 

 generally about March or April. The actual deposition of the 

 spawn has never been observed, but there cannot be a doubt that 

 the sandy and muddy beaches of bays and lakes are the favoured 

 spots. There is a similar want of reliable evidence as to the time 

 of the appearance of the young fry ; but we belie\e that there are 

 sufficient grounds for concluding that the spawn deposited at the 

 end of summer does not germinate until the warmth of spring. 



