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" To begin with the spawning season : — In the latter end of 

 summer, that is at periods varying from the middle of March to 

 the middle of May, the Sea-Mullet is seen to enter all the harbours 

 and inlets of the coast in successive shoals, some of the most asto- 

 nishing vastness. It is then full of roe, and in splendid condition. 

 When not interfered with by fishermen (for it is a fish easily turned 

 from its course) or diverted by storms or floods, these shoals 

 penetrate to all parts of these inlets, and run up the rivers even 

 into fresh water in search of suitable places for the deposition of 

 their spawn. When a suitable spot is reached, the deposition of 

 the spawn commences ; and the process is carried on in much the 

 same way as that of the Salmon and other fish of similar habits. 

 Sometimes, however, from bad weather or the persecution of 

 fishermen, the shoals are prevented from seeking suitable spawn- 

 ing grounds, and the fish, being no longer able to retain the spawn, 

 shed it loose upon the water, where it becomes entirely lost. 

 When the ova are properly fertilisetl and left undisturbed the 

 young fish make their appearance on the approach of warm 

 weather in spring (Macleay), when they may' be seen in large 

 shoals close to the land and in shallow water. From that period 

 until they become adult, which is probably at the age of two years, 

 they seem to keep entirely to the rivers, lakes, and mud-flats, 

 where they thrive and grow with amazing rapidity. As they are 

 without teeth, they are incapable of eating either animal or vege- 

 table substances in the ordinary sense of the term ; but they are 

 possessed. Dr. Giinther informs us, of a pharyngeal apparatus 

 which sifts the organic from the inorganic particles from the mud 

 which they swallow and on which they live. When the period at 

 length arrives for the mature fish to go to the sea preparatory to 

 spawning, the instinct which actuates them seems to be irre- 

 sistible. In one instance, some years ago, when Tugerrah-beach 

 lake was for a time shut up at its sea-mouth, the Mullet pressed 

 in such masses in the direction in which the outlet should have 

 been that thousands of them were forced up on the land and 

 perished. An occurrence of the same kind is mentioned as 

 having happened at Lake Illawaira under similar circumstances. 

 It is doubtful how long it is between the rush of the fish to the 



