10 TKAWLIXG. 



about I a mile to southward. Tons upon tons of schnappers have been taken 

 off this ground, which however is difficult for a stranger to find, as the cross- 

 bearing marks are not easily described. The whole of this Port Hacking or 

 Curranulla Bight is one vast nursery and feeding-ground for fish, and the 

 harbour and river of Port Hacking at its southern extremity is second only 

 to Broken Bay as a net ground. Here are caught generally the first gar- 

 fish and mullet of the season, both which fish come to us from the southward, 

 generally seeking the smooth harbour waters after a heavy south and south- 

 easterly weather, and, after a few days continuing their progress north- 

 ward, and putting in at every inlet or river-mouth lying in their course. 

 A cable-length or so distant from ' Jibben Head,' the southern point of the 

 entrance to Port Hacking, lies Jibben ' bumbora,' a fishing-mark of great 

 repute, but not now much resorted to for school-fish, i.e., the schnapper of 

 about 4 to 6 or 7 years old, and found on the off-shore grounds in large 

 schools, as distinguished from the native, which is the same fish at a latter 

 stage of growth, but frequenting different haunts (the shoals off headlands, 

 sunken rocks, and river-points). Passing south, the inshore grounds off 

 Marly Head and TVattamolle are next reached, and this latter point forms 

 the Sydney and Botany fisherman's Ultima Thule. Indeed, these southern 

 fishing-grounds are rarely troubled, except in the winter months, when the 

 wind generally blows off the shore, and is fair for both the up and down 

 trip." 



This description of the value of the offing grounds in the 

 immediate vicinity of Port Jackson may be applied with 

 equal correctness to the offing of tlie whole coast-line. 

 Schnapper and other fish can he captured in quantity at 

 almost any point. To give an instance, the harbour and 

 river entrances are more or less bar-bound, and steam-boats 

 trading to them have sometimes to await a favouring tide to 

 run in. While waiting it is usual for the passengers to pass 

 the time in fishing, and quite considerable quantities of fish 

 are frequently taken in this way. It will thus be evident 

 that the offing in its length and breadth is one vast fishing- 

 ground, wonderfully prolific, and as yet practically unworked. 



TRAWLIXG. 



But it is not to the line fisherman only that this extensive 

 ground can be made to yield its wealth ; at frequent intervals 

 along the coast-line occur extensive bights, having so far as is 

 known firm bottoms, clear of impediments, over which the 

 beam trawl could be drawn for miles ; such as these exist 

 between Newcastle and Port Stephens, off Tuggerah, off 

 Shoalhaven, and off numerous other points ; on eacli fish 

 abound. Some two years since a vessel derelict was discovered 

 drifting in the course of passing ships oft' the Port Stephens 

 Bisiht ; she was recovered and towed towards the land and 



