THE HERRING EISHERIES. 15 



tliem in the open sea would require appliaiices not at present 

 in the possession of our fishermen. These species, as might 

 be expected, are different from those of the Northern Hemis- 

 phere, but in excellence as edibles certainly not inferior. 



A species of herring (clupea sagax) almost identical with 

 the English pilchard makes its appearance on the coast of New 

 South Wales annually in June or July. It is called by the 

 fishermen Mar ay, probably a native name, though this term 

 is sometimes applied to other species of herring. The shoals 

 are described as enormous, covering miles of sea and accom- 

 panied by flights of birds and numbers of large fishes. 

 These shoals are generally observed from 1 to 3 miles from 

 the land, and are always proceeding in a northerly direction. 

 The same fish is reported by Dr. Hector, F.K-.S., Director of 

 the Colonial Museum, Wellington, New Zealand, to visit the 

 East Coast of Otago every year ia Eebruary or March. In 

 1877 " a shoal was observed there migrating southwards. It 

 extended as far as the eye could reach, followed by multi- 

 tudes of gulls, mutton-birds, barracoota, and porpoises. So 

 densely packed were they that by dipping a pitcher into the 

 sea it would be drawn out half full of fish ; so that by the 

 use of large boats and suitable nets thousands of tons could 

 have been caught." There is much that is curious about 

 the migrations of this fish : all the shoals which pass here 

 in winter are going north, while the shoals visiting Otago 

 in summer are going south. It is a matter for inquiry — 

 *' Are they the same fishes returning to their homes in the 

 Antarctic seas after months of travel in search of spawning 

 grounds ? If so, how far north do they go ? And where 

 are their breedinG; (grounds ?" 



A species of herring common on the New South Wales 

 coast, is the clupea sundiaca. " This species can be readily 

 distinguished from the sagax by its much deeper and more 

 compressed body, and the bright golden band on each side 

 near the back." Shoals of this fish sometimes visit Port 

 Jackson. Sir William Macleay relates that on one morning 

 he found the beach at Elizabeth Bay strewed with bushels of 

 them, left by a fisherman who had hauled his seine there 

 during the night and taken away as many as he could. Like 

 the Maray {sagax) it visits our coasts in winter in enormous 

 shoals. It seems probable that its breeding grounds are not 

 far distant, as it is to be found in the Hawkesbury, about 

 MuUet Island, at all seasons of the year, and the young fry. 



