84 EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



purposes it ranks high in tlie estimation of the same author, who is also of 

 opinion that half a dozen large Kingfishes from fifty to sixty pounds weight 

 caught by one angler form a fair day's work. 



It must not he lost sight of when referring to this fish under its trivial 

 name, that the Kingfish of Victoria is Scicena (ujuila, while that of Tasmania 

 is Thyrsites solandri. 



The entire coast of New South Wales is subject at all seasons to the 

 incursion of shoals of this species, of which tlie most marked is a run of 

 lartre breediuir fish commencintr during August and lasting till about the 

 middle of November ; from this time during the summer and autumn months 

 large shoals of immature and halfgrown fishes make their appearance, these 

 in their turn retiring, with the approach of cold weather, to more open, 

 deeper, and consequently warmer waters. Even, however, during the depth 

 of winter some few examples, chiefly of large size, may constantly be met 

 with in our market. 



How far northwards it ranges we are unable to say, there being no avail- 

 able catalogue of Queensland Fishes, but we gather from Saville Kent's 

 Preliminary Eeport that it is a " large and valuable foodfish of the Queens- 

 land market," and is " not unfrequently taken in Moreton "Bay. It is a 

 school fish readily taken with hook and line, or, as in some localities, with. 

 the harpoon. It is much esteemed for the table." 



"Writing of its occurrence on the Victorian coast under the heading. S. 

 qrandis, Castelnau remarks that the Tellowtail — by which name it is there 

 known — "plavsa conspicuous figure in the Melbourne market, particularly 

 during the hottest months of the year." Referring to Tasmania, Johnston 

 says : — " Appears in schools; abundant off the (George Town Heads regularly 

 during a brief season (autumn) every year. Takes bait greedily." For a 

 similar reason to that given when discussing its distribution in Queensland 

 waters, we are also unable to determine how far its range extends to the 

 westward, no South Australian naturalist having as yet published a Catalogue 

 of the Fishes of their Colony or even of the Gulf of St.Alncent; we think it 

 probable, however, that it occurs along the entire seaboard of southern 

 Australia. 



At Lord Howe Lsland it is common, and much esteemed either fresh, salted, 

 or smoked. It is found in the seas of New Zealand, but its distribution 

 there does not appear to be at present accurately determined : the Maori 

 name is "Haku." Sherrin remarks: — "In the months of Janizary and 

 Februarv in each year large shoals of this fish visit Cook Strait, and 

 occasionally enter Wellington Harbor. They are generally of two dsitinct 

 sizes, the smaller about six pounds weight and twenty inches long, and the 

 larger about four feet in length and weighing about forty pounds. The flesh 

 is very rich and well flavored, but, like all fishes of this class, must be eaten 

 quite fresh. These fishes are often caught in Moki* nets, to which they do 

 great damage. They also drive on to exposed beaches, several of them being 

 generally cast up together. Natives value tliem very highly, and eagerly 

 search the coast for them at the proper season, and have been known to carry 

 choice specimens far into the interior as gifts to their friends. * * * * 

 In New Zealand it is not mentioned as having been seen further south than 

 Cook Strait, but in all probability it must occur along the whole of the west side 

 of the island. In its habits it is migratory and gregarious, like the Tunny." 

 He goes on to say that in the Auckland District it is not so plentiful as 



The " Moki" is the Bastard Trumpeter, Latris ciliari.<, Forster. 



