35 



the whole of Australia, but is replaced in the northern 

 rivers by a much larger species known as Lates calcarifer, 

 which is more abundant. 



L. colonorum is not unfrequently taken with nets in the 

 bays at the estuaries of the rivers, having been brought 

 down to the sea by the "freshes" or floods, also by "set" 

 nets in the rivers higher up the stream. When freshly 

 cooked they are among the best of our river fishes. They 

 spawn during August and September, the roes being con- 

 sidered a great delicacy. There are many other species, 

 such as Lates Ramsayi, MacLeay, Lates curtus, Cast., Mugil 

 dobtila, Gth., Mugil argenteus, Eels {A ngiiilla australis^ the 

 freshwater Herring {Meletta novcE-hollandicB), the Cat-fish 

 {Copidoglanis tandamis), and a host of small fry which 

 afford the anglers pleasant sport as well as a good dish. 



But the most important of our freshwater fishes are 

 undoubtedly the two species of the Murray Cod {Oligorus), 

 the Golden Perch {Ctenolates), 2 species, the Silver Perch 

 and MacLeay's Perch {Therapon), the River Perch {Lates), 

 2 species, with the Eels {A nguilla), of which there are also 

 probably 2 species. 



EDWARD P. RAMSAY, 



Commissioner of the New So2ith Wales Fisheries. 



D 2 



