(Communicated by 7'. H. Johnston, M.A., D.Sc.) 
SOME PRELIMINARY NOTES ON THE HABITS 
OF THE DAWSON RIVER BARRAMUNDI, 
SCLEROPAGES LEICHHARDTII. 
By T. L. Bancrort, M.B. (Edin.) 
( Read before the Royal Society of Queensland, 29th May, 1916). 
I have long been anxious to ascertain the method of 
spawning of the Barramundi. Nearly three years ago 
Mr. Harry Pearce captured some Barramundi in a net 
of six-inch mesh, on the Dee River, a tributary of the 
Dawson. These, when examined in August, 1914, were 
found to contain very advanced roe; there were about 
fifty eggs in the mass, the diameter of the ovum being 
about 8 mm. September and October being the spawning 
season of the fishes of the Burnett, and the ova of the 
Barramundi having been noted in an advanced stage in 
August, lent support to the likelihood of September being 
the most suitable time to make an investigation of the 
kind. I therefore spent a brief holiday on the Dawson 
River in the latter part of September, 1915. 
We proceeded first to Mostowie, on the Dawson, the 
property of Mr. F. M. Bell, but the river at this point is 
too deep and too wide (over a hundred yards) for the 
purpose, though large Barramundi were seen swimming 
about on the surface; with a boat this might be a good 
spot to study the fish. 
Whilst at Mostowie, Mr. A. J. Cook informed me that, 
twenty years ago, Mr. Homer, of Barfield Station, whilst 
dragging a net in the river had pointed out to him, tiny 
fish swimming into the mouths of large Barramundi. This 
is interesting and important, for it points to the probability 
of the Barramundi carrying its developing ova in the mouth. 
