8 THE OFFING FISHERIES. 



There are most important sclmapper- grounds existing at 

 varying- distances from all the main headlands between the 

 South Head of Broken !Bay and the North Head of Port 

 Jackson ; there are, at least, a score of school of fish-grounds 

 within these limits. Vast quantities of fish have been taken 

 in every one of them, especially along the line of submerged 

 rocks known as Long lleef, which can be traced for a 

 distance of five miles oft shore, and on the wide off grounds off 

 Narrabeen Bight. Bumboras or sunken rocks are found in 

 this bight, and they, like all others on the coast are the 

 favourite resort of the schnapper fishermen during particular 

 conditions of the currents. It is said that schnapper have 

 been taken in large quantities about ten miles wide off 

 from Long Beef in about 35 to 40 fathoms of water. 

 Excepting those off Deewhy there are no recognised grounds 

 between Long Beef and the North Head of Port Jackson. 

 Off this head is a line of reefs jutting out under water 

 which, like those at Long Beef, forms a series of schnapper 

 grounds, which had once a splendid reputation, but are now not 

 much to be depended upon ; possibly these, like the grounds 

 about three miles due east from Port Jackson have suffered 

 deterioration from the constant discharge from the mud- 

 punts of silt and harbour refuse. Continuing southerly, the 

 next grounds resorted to by fishermen are off the Elagstaff' 

 and Mud Island; the next of importance are at varying 

 distances from the rocky islet off Coogee Bay. These are 

 favourite grounds for the various fishing clubs which pursue 

 their recreation in small steam vessels, and from force of 

 numbers and the ease with which they can shift from one 

 spot to another are able to count out more fish for a fair day's 

 outing than any of the professional fishing crews. About 

 fourteen miles eastward of these Coogee grounds a shell- 

 bank was discovered by Mr. James M'Carthy, an amatem* 

 fisherman — it carries only about 20 to 30 fathoms of water ; 

 but it is so narrow that vessels find great difficulty in lying- to 

 on it; the ridge extends in a north-west to south-east direction 

 for about a mile, and the soundings in the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood show 70 to 90 fathoms. Another, the Jerusalem 

 Bank, about fifty miles east-northerly from Wollongong, 

 carrying 20 fathoms of water, was found in 1876 by Captain 

 Largie of the barque "Jerusalem." It was searched for 

 subsequently by Captain Hixson, the President of the Marine 

 Board, but without success. So far as is known the search 



