EDIBLE PISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 39 



villiform ; jaws with minute teetli forming a broad but short patch in the 

 upper, and a narrower but much longer band in the lower jaw ; the outer 

 row much enlarged and curved, with their tips yellow. Spinous portion of 

 dorsal low, the spines, which are moderately strong and acute, increasing 

 gradually in height to the last, which is three and a quarter to three and a 

 half times the lengtli of the first, and 2'50-2-75 in that of the head; the 

 rays grow gradually shorter from the anterior ones, which are from one third 

 to one fourth longer than the longest spine ; length of base of spinous dorsal 

 l*7o-l'85 in that of the rayed : anal similar iu form to the dorsal, com- 

 mencing beneath the last dorsal spine ; its third spine longer than but not 

 so strong as the second, equal in length to the longest dorsal spine or slightly 

 shorter : the ventral reaches to the vent, its spine is half the length of the 

 first ray, which is from l"8o-2'00 in that of the head : pectoral well 

 developed, rounded, reaching to the vertical from the origin of the anal, and 

 but little shorter than the head : caudal forked ; the least height of its 

 pedicle 4'50-4'G6 in the height of the body. Scales finely ciliated ; the entire 

 head, except the lips, circumnasal membrane, and maxilla scaly ; soft por- 

 tions of the vertical fins clothed with minute scales, spinous portions with a 

 basal scaly sheath. Lateral line in a long gentle curve, parallel to the dorsal 

 profile. 



Colors. — Silvery blue, darkest above, with a distinct dark blue axillary 

 spot when alive ; dull brown after death. 



The Sweep occurs in the Sydney markets in moderate quantities through- 

 out the year, but is in best condition during the summer and autumn 

 months. The spawn is deposited in sheltered bays and harbors during the 

 early winter months, and the young, to the length of three or four inches, 

 are freqtiently taken by the trawl and seine in sj)ring and summer. In the 

 Eeport of the lioyal Commission on Pisheries the following sentence 

 occurs : — " It is seldom caught except in the seine, and is probably entirely 

 a vegetable feeder." That the conclusion arrived at on this subject by the 

 Commissioners is erroneous can be substantiated both from the personal 

 examination of many specimens and from the testimony of Mr. Alexander 

 Oliver, who states that " he has caught thousands with a live or meat bait." 

 Eemains of small crustaceans and worms were found in all the specimens 

 examined by us, and in one example a small cuttle, Octopus granulcdus, 

 Lamarck, was present ; in no case was vegetable matter detected in the 

 intestines. As food it is only moderate, nevertheless it commands a ready 

 sale in the market at fair prices. 



The exact distribution of 8. cequipiiinis is difficult to determine, but 

 specimens are in the British Museum from Swan Eiver, West Australia, and 

 King George's Soimd, while, as has been shown, it is abundant on the New 

 South Wales coast ; Lucas, however, omits it from his Census of Victorian 

 Fishes, as also does Johnston in his Catalogue of Tasmanian Eishes, the 

 latter, however, including the western *S'. georrjianus, with the remarks, " Eare. 

 IS'ot seen." How far it ranges to the north is also a matter of conjecture, 

 Alleyne and Macleay having described as new a form, S. vinosa, from 

 Darnley Island, north-eastern Queensland, which it is to be inferred from 

 his Preliminary Report on the Food Fishes of that colony Saville Kent 

 considers worthy of recognition. Its eastwardly distribution extends as far 

 as Lord Howe Island. 



Twelve inches is the maximum size to which the Sn-eep attains ; and it 

 may be here remarked that a very distinct fish, Girella simplex, goes by the 

 name of " Sweep" in Tasmania. 



