12 TEAWLING. 



warrant for anticipating successful results from a trawling 

 expedition properly manned and equipped and assisted with 

 favourable weather. 



Of course it is scarcely reasonable to expect that private 

 enterprise will step in and prosecute this industry on the basis 

 of little more than the bare assumption of ultimate success. 

 But under proper representation the Government would, 

 doubtless, direct the institution of a trawl-survey to test the 

 suitability of some of the large bights already named. 



This, while it would be more expeditious and far less 

 expensive than a hydrographic survey, would supply just the 

 information it will most concern the intending trawler to 

 possess ; as, for instance, not only the depths of water and 

 character of l)ottom but the fisli producing capabilities as 

 well ; while to the public it would evidence the prol^able value 

 of fish capture by trawling as items of national economy and 

 wealth. 



The equipment necessary for a trawl-survey would be a 

 small steamboat sufficiently fitted and manned by an ordinary 

 crew, but supplemented by one or two expert certificated 

 trawl fishermen ; — of these several are to be found amongst 

 the employes in the Marine Departments of the Crown. 



In concluding this brief description of the fishing-grounds 

 of New South Wales it may be fitting, perhaps, to remark 

 that we have in our seas a wonderful variety of fishes not 

 surpassed in numbers or excellence in any country in the 

 world. We have herrings of various kinds annually skirting 

 our coast in countless shoals, we have shoals of mackerel, 

 taller, king-fish, trevally, and yellow-tail, gar-fish, whiting, 

 schnapper, mullet, &c. Of the mullet [mugil grandls), which, 

 under proper system 'and treatment, might be made of 

 immense value to the country, it is hardly possible to write 

 in language too extravagant. It is of all our fishes tlie one 

 that offers the greatest inducement for a special fishery. It 

 makes its appearance in very large shoals during the months 

 of April and May, travelling in a nortlierly direction, and 

 showing a disposition to enter every inlet and harbour along 

 its course. It is at that time in the finest condition and full 

 of roe, and is prosecuting its migration simply in search of 

 suitable spawning-grounds ; — the quantity which could be 

 consumed in a fresh state during this special season which 

 lasts only about six or eight weeks would be very small in pro- 

 portion to the quantity which could be captured, and it would 

 be quite practicable to utilise the vast numbers of this splendid 



