140 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM. 



flavour." Stead makes no remark as to its quality, but contents himself with 

 stating that it "may be considered as lilcely to be of some use as an adjunct to 

 our food-supply in the near future. "^- 



Bange: — Coasts of New South Wales and Southern Queensland from the 

 Shoalhaven Bight in the south to the JMoreton Bay District m the north. From 

 our own coast I have seen specimens from Curruml)in Creek, Southport, Moreton 

 Bay, Brisbane River, and from the "Endeavour" stations — off South Hill in 13 

 fath. on fine dark sand 2, off Point Lookout in 81 fath. on fine sand and shell 6, 

 off Cartwright Point in 24 fath. 4, and off Low Bluff in 15 fath. 3, both these 

 latter on fine sand. According to Waite the "Thetis" also obtained it at four 

 stations, namely— Newcastle Bight in 19 to 16 fath. on "mud and sand to 

 pebbles"; off Newcastle in 21 to 48 fath. on sand and mud; off' Cape Hawke in 

 10 to 12 fath. on sand to gravel; and off' the Shoalhaven River in 15 fath. on 

 sand. Regarding the second of these stations "Waite remarks — "Although 21-48 

 fathoms was sounded at Station 24 it is quite possible that this fish was taken 

 when the trawl was first lowered and before it descended to greater depths. 

 It may be further pointed out that it was obtained most abundantly in the 

 shallowest water wherein we trawled," which is diametrically opposed to the 

 ' ' Endeavour 's ' ' experience here ; this only shows that, as suggested al^o^^e, the 

 breeding fishes were drawing in to the shallow water off the mouths of rivers 

 preparatory to shedding their spawn, while the stripped fishes were widelj' 

 scattered over the ocean bed at a much greater depth. 



Dimensions: — As both Waite and I found 280 millim. (11 in.) to be the 

 largest size obtainable, this may be taken as the maximum length to which the 

 species attains. A more usual size is from 200 to 225 millim., and Waite 

 records that "it is mature at a much smaller size, for a large number of our 

 specimens measuring only six inches in length were in full spawn. ' ' 



PARDACHIRUS Giinther. 



Pardachirus Giinther, Brit. Mus. Catal. Fish., iv, 18G2, p. 478 (marinoratiis). 



Body ovate, obtusely rounded anteriorly, the caudal peduncle very short 

 and deep. Scales small, adherent, variously armed, extending on the bases of 

 the vertical fins ; head everywhere scaly ; edges of snout, lower jaw, and branchial 

 aperture fringed, under surface of snout and lower jaw densely clothed wdth 

 skinny filaments. Lateral line straight, that on the blind side extending 

 forwards by a gentle curve to the snout, where it joins a second line, which 

 runs from the tip of the snout close below the upper profile of the head and 

 2iape ; vertical fin-rays each provided with a pair of open pores. Head small, 

 the snout projecting beyond the lower jaw, but without hook. Mouth small 

 and lunate, narrower on the blind side than on the eyed. Teeth minute and 

 setaceous, in villiform bands, on the blind side only. Anterior ^lostril of eyed 

 side and both nostrils of blind side tubular ; posterior nostril of eyed side simple, 

 close in front of the lower eye, and concealed beneath the ascending flap of the 

 lower lip. Eyes small, dextral, separated by a narrow scaly concave interspace, 

 the upper a little in advance of the lower. Dorsal originating in front or a little 

 below the upper eye, anal below the opercular angle, the rays divided, with the 



^2 We are looking forward with great interest to Mr, Stead's first report on the proceedings 

 of the New South Wales trawlers — Koraaga, Gunnundaal, and Brolga. Much important 

 information regarding the bi-eeding places and sea'^ons of our food-fishes may, and it is hoped 

 will, be obtained through their instriunentality. We wish the New South Wales Government 

 and Mr. Stead all good fortmie in this venture, and trust that the Government of this State 

 will as soon as possible emulate their prai?eworthy and patriotic action by stimulating the 

 scientific development of our fi'-hories on the lines laid do«n lay me in letters to local journals. 



