EDIBLK FIHUES OF QVEENSLAND-^OGILBY. 77 



the groiind-eolor, becoming gradually darker from the base upwards, so that the 

 outer third appears blackish; soft dorsal with rhe dojiwiiuieh less crowded, only 

 a narrow marginal and a suprabasal band appearing blackish ; tips of caudal rays 

 hlaekish : a small dark spot in and behind the peetoral-axil ; anal and ventrals 

 white. 



Described from twelve examples, measuring 188 to 276 mm., taken in the 

 upper reaches of the estuary of the Brisbane River by Mr. J. H. Hamson, and 

 kindly given by him to me for the purposes of this paper. 



Historical: — Our earliest description of this species comes from Dr. 

 Gunther who, in his Report on the Shore Fishes of the Challenger Expedition, 

 shortly described two specimens taken in the neighborhood of Tiaro, a settle- 

 ment on the upper reaches of the Mary River Estuary. Subsequently de Vis 

 redescribed the fish as Corvina canina, the description, like that of Dr. Giinther, 

 being of little value as a means of identification. The life history of this little 

 Jewfish is interesting in that it is surrounded by a cloud of mystery. None of 

 the specimens which I have examined showed milt or ova in anything but the 

 earliest stage of development, nor has inquiry from many of our local anglers, 

 wdio have been catching the fish for years, elicited evidence contrary to my own 

 experience ; where and how the spawn is deposited or shed is, therefore, a matter 

 of conjecture, some of our best known experts holding that the "perch," like the 

 salmon, makes its way into the upper reaches of the river for the purpose of 

 depositing its spawn, and this having been accomplished retires to recuperate in 

 the deejier waters of the bay. A few even assert that having left the estuary, and 

 gained the shallower fresh waters of the river sources, they remain there and 

 spawn during the summer months, only dropping down into brackish w^ater on 

 the advent of autumn. I can not, however, find the slightest evidence in support 

 of this view, even its advocates acknowledging that there is no reliable I'ccord of 

 its capture luider such conditions. The nuijority of our anglers, however, believe 

 that, like its congener, <S'. antarctica, it merely resorts to the estuaries during the 

 winter and spring months in search of the food which it finds there plentifully, 

 and that, having gained by the latter part of its sojourn therein the highest 

 condition, it then retires to the deeper parts of Moreton Bay or even to the open 

 sea for the purpose of spawning. With this view I am inclined to agree.'' 

 Again in .some years it is exceedingly abundant in all the rivers flowing into 

 Moreton Bay, while in others, where the circumstances are to all appearances 

 equally favorable, it only appears in limited numbers, or even in rare ca.ses puts 

 in no appearance. As to the causes which induce this remarkable variation from 

 year to year no one has as yet given any adequate explanation. The following 

 notes, referring to the Brisbane River, condensed from a letter kindly written for 



'' Since writing the above I have received, through the kindness of Mr. R. lUidge, a young 

 example, measuring 67 mm., taken at Bulimba; this goes far to prove that, like the ma.jority of 

 our edible fishes, this species spawns near the mouths of rivers, and the young, as with mullet, 

 whiting, bream, etc., seek the shallow water at the edges of the estuaries for protection from 

 their enemies. 



