30 



" We will therefore only notice here those which appear to be 

 most abundant and most likely to be useful. The ' Maray ' 

 {Clupea sagax) appears annually in immense shoals about mid- 

 winter, passing in a northerly direction ; and portions of the shoals 

 sometimes enter the bays and harbours of the coast, but not cer- 

 tainly, as with most fishes, for the purpose of spawning, for the 

 shoals consist at that time of small and immature fish, but pro- 

 bably driven in by the hosts of large fishes, porpoises, &c., by which 

 they are invariably pursued. The same fish is seen to pass south 

 on the eastern coast of New Zealand about six or seven months 

 afterw^ards, and then they are full-grown and full of roe. The 

 excellent bloaters of Picton, New Zealand, are made of this fish. 

 The next best known species is the 'Herring {Clupca Sundaicd), 

 a fish of great excellence and delicacy of flavour, though but little 

 appreciated. It also appears in the winter season, and in shoals. 

 It is said to be found about the mouth of the Hawkesbury River 

 at all seasons of the year." — R. R. Com., p. 34. 



Etriivieus Jacksoiiensis is another delicious food-fish, 

 which is occasionally taken in the harbour. In March, 

 1883, both Chtpea sagax and this species were found in 

 good condition, and taken in the same haul of the seine. 



MUR/ENID^. 



Eels are abundant in our waters, but are only occa- 

 sionally brought to the market, not being specially fished 

 for. They are not much in demand, and seldom bring 

 more than 6d. or i^. each, or from 3^, to \d. per lb. 

 Recently there has been a slight demand, while formerly 

 they were almost unsaleable. The species most frequently 

 obtained are: — Angiiilla atistralis, usually from the fresh- 

 water swamps, lagoons, and rivers near Sydney ; MiircBne- 

 sox cinerea, the "pike eel," "silver eel," &c ; Ophichthys 

 . serpens, the sand-eel ; Conger labiata and Mnra^na afra, 

 the "rock" and "green" eels, which are common on all 



