THE MARINE FISHING-GROUNDS. 



adapted both as nursery and feeding grounds for fisli. 

 The following outline is intended to afford an idea of 

 the position of these inlets with reference to Sydney, their 

 naturally large resources, and tlieir number and variety. 



The fisheries are distributed into three large sections — the 

 Northern, the Southern, and the Home divisions. The prin- 

 cipal of these is the latter. It is shown on the map, and 

 comprises all the tidal waters between Port Stephens and 

 Bherrewerre, St. George's Basin. The metropolitan market 

 is within easy reach from almost any point within this 

 division, hence its value and its designation. 



THE HOME DIVISION OF FISHERIES. 



^Tort Stephens, about 90 miles to the northward of Sydney, 

 takes a premier position amongst the fishing-stations — con- 

 nected with a vast series of lakes (the Myall Lakes) * with the 

 Karuali River, Telligherry Creek, a dozen of important 

 affluents, and miles upon miles of beaches and flats, suitable 

 for seine-hauling, this immense water, some two or three 

 times the size of Port Jackson, is, it may readily be con- 

 ceived, one of the large factors in the metropolitan supply. 

 At present it is out of reach of railway communication. 

 This disadvantage may possibly be removed in the near 

 future ; but its produce is even now very readily conveyed 

 by sea to Newcastle, and thence to Sydney by rapid steam or 

 rail transit. 



Hunter River. — The reaches on the lower part of this river 

 are of more importance to Sydney as a prawn fishery than 

 in the supply of line or net fish which they afford. Even 

 the population of Newcastle is not adequately supplied 

 by the Hunter. Most probably the great and constant 

 destruction of immature fish by prawn-nets, an evil which 

 legislation, though specially instituted in that direction, has 

 so far failed to overcome, is responsible for this. 



*Lahe Macquarie. — Since the opening of the North Coast 

 Eailway to Newcastle, this magnificent lake has become the 

 most productive of our fisheries. Prior to that event it was 

 valued only as a vast nursing and feeding ground. Owing 

 to the difficulty of communication with Sydney, it found but 

 little favour with the fishermen, the few who happened to 

 be stationed there preferring to fish for the Chinese curers 



* Ste Map— Appendices. 



