The Fisheries of New South Wales. 



CHAPTER I. 



The fisheries of New South Wales have ever engaged more 

 or less of public attentiou, for it had always been evident 

 that, possessing a coast-line of such a contour as that which 

 shapes the eastern boundary of the Colony, the possibilities 

 of fish production must be enormous, and quite worth all the 

 consideration which could be bestowed upon them. 



The purpose of this pamphlet is to trace the history of 

 the attempts made to utilise these fisheries, to review the laws 

 by which, from period to period, they have been governed, 

 and to offer such further information respecting them as 

 the writer himself possesses, and ofiicial and other authentic 

 records Avill supply. 



It is hoped that a perusal of these pages will help to 

 convey some idea of the extent and value of our piscine 

 resources, and the so-far latent wealth which await only the 

 aid of capital and enterprise to develop. 



With such objects in view, it will be proper, in the first 

 place, to attempt a brief description of — 



THE MAEINE MSHINa-GEOIJNDS. 



The marine fishin2:-2:rounds so far known to us extend 

 along the entire length of the sea-board — some 700 miles. 

 This sea-board, both in its inlets and its ofiing, is in a marked 

 degree favourable to the development of the very large 

 supply of food-fishes which inhabit it. It is indented by 

 I innumerable inlets and arms of the sea. It possesses many 

 rivers whose embouchures are of large expanse. Its lakes 

 and some of its bays and harbours are of vast extent, and its 

 submarine conditions generally are of a character eminently 



