46 EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOrXII TTALES. 



December had the ova ready for extrusion, while another taken off Broken 

 Bay within a few days was in poor condition and showed unmistakable 

 signs of having shed its spawn but a short time previously ; numerous 

 examples cxamiued between March and June showed no vestiges of spawn ; 

 we may, therefore, infer that the breeding season on this part of the coast 

 is rather earlier than is the case witli G. ti'icuspidata and G. simplex, and 

 that the ova is deposited at a considerable depth, and, judging from the 

 habits of the fish, probably in the vicinity of weed-covered rocks. 



As referred to above, the Bluefish varies entirely from the Blackfish and 

 Ludrick in its preference for the open sea ; it delights in bold rocky coasts, 

 and being a strong hardy fish is apparently indifferent to the wildest storms, 

 a fact to wliich the configuration of the powerful caudal fin, which differs 

 greatly from that of its congeners, probably bears some relationship ; this 

 divergence in habits is best illustrated by studying examples of the three 

 species confined in the same tank in an aquarium, for while this species will 

 be found to swim restlessly round and round the tank, the others are content 

 to move sluggishly about or remain in the same spot with gently moving 

 fins. 



As food this species is much superior to its congeners, and this is easy to 

 account for, not only because of its residence in the open sea, but also that 

 it is not purely herbivorous, but apparently prefers a more or less flesh diet ; 

 for while the Blackfishes are almost invariably found to contain masses of 

 green seaweeds, the intestines of the present species rarely contain any 

 except the calcareous sorts, and these are always mixed with other sub- 

 stances, such as hydrid zoophytes, boltinias, prawns, squid, and the remains 

 of fishes, among which were distinguished Yellowtail {Oaranx trachurus), 

 Hardyhead {Afherina pinguis), "Whiting {Sillafjo maculata), and a Elatfish 

 i^Lophonectes gallus) . 



On the Xew South "Wales coast they have not been recorded elsewhere 

 than from the limited area comprised between Port Hacking Heads and 

 those of Broken Bay, but I have little doubt that sooner or later they will 

 be found in numbers further north. So far as our present knowledge goes 

 the metropolis of the species is Lord Howe Island, where it is abundant at 

 all seasons, and forms one of the staple articles of food among the inhabitants, 

 being used either fresh, salted, or smoked. It is taken principally, if not 

 altogether, by means of handlines, and grows to about thirty inches in length. 



The largest specimen measured by us was over twenty five inches and was 

 caught off Broken Bay. 



Genus in.-PAGRUS. 



Pagrus, Cuv. Regne Anim. ; Cuv. & Val. Hist. Xat. Poiss. vi. p. 141, 1830. 

 Chrysophrgs, Cuv. Eegne Anim. ; Cuv. & Yal. Hist. Nat. Poiss. V\. p. 81. 



Branchiostegals six : pseudobranchia? present. Body oblong-ovate and 

 somewhat compressed. Jaws with an anterior row of conical or compressed 

 canines, and from two to four lateral rows of rounded molars. A single 

 dor.sal fin, with from eleven to thirteen, rarely elongated, spines, which are 

 receivable into a groove at their base : the anal with three. Scales of moderate 

 size, eyelid or finely ctenid : cheeks scaly. Airbladder usually simple, but 

 sometimes notched or with very short appendages. Pyloric appendages, 

 when present, in small numbers. 



