THE MAHINE FISHING-GROUNDS. 



valuable breeding-grounds and nurseries for many kinds of 

 edible fisb, and care is taken to prevent them from being 

 ravaged by the operation of netters. 



Botany Bay and George's River. — Some 10 miles south 

 from Port Jackson lies Botany Bay and its valuable tril)utaries 

 the George's and Woronora liivers — these are amongst the 

 most prolific of our grounds, and are esteemed of high value, 

 not only on account of the enormous supply they so continu- 

 ously yield, but by reason of their proximity to Sydney and 

 its southern suburbs, and the many ready means which exist 

 for the transit of fish. Eish can be sent by train, by tram, 

 and by several lines of road from these waters, which are of 

 value not only to the professional fisherman but to quite an 

 army of amateur line fishermen also. It is not at all unusual 

 on holidays, and on Saturdays and Sundays, for some 300 

 boats to be engaged here in line-fishing, each boat having 

 from three to six occupants. 



Bort Sackiug. — South from Botany, and about 6 miles 

 distant, is Port Hacking. It is a splendid fishing-ground, 

 but as bordering on the National Park it has been considered 

 proper to restrict its use for purposes of public recreation and 

 amusement. Netting in any part of it is prohibited by special 

 Act of Parliament, and the rights of public thus created as 

 against the net fishermen are most zealously guarded. 



^Lake Illawarra , — Between Port Hacking and this lake a 

 stretch of 33 miles of rock-bound coast occurs with nothing 

 to break it except an artificially-formed harbour basin at 

 Woilongong. Some 4 miles south from Wollongong is Lake 

 Illawarra ; this water bears on the south somewhat of the 

 relation to Sydney which Lake Macquarie does on the north, 

 being an important breeding- ground and nursery and a factor 

 in the fish supply; moreover, nearly the whole line of its shores 

 is comprised of flats and shallows, and seines can be used in 

 almost any part of it. It has but a narrow and indifi'erent 

 entrance to the sea which, except in very calm weather, 

 cannot be used even by fishing- boats ; it is tapped at several 

 points by the South Coast Bailway, and by this mode of transit 

 its produce is despatched. 



Shoalhaven and Crookhaven Rivers. — Passing southerly 

 from Lake Illawarra alons; another considerable stretch of 



See Map — Appendices. 



