13Ji EDIBLE EISHES OF NEW SOUTH WxVLES. 



As ;iu instance of tlie extraordinary patience, cuniiin>:^, and dexterity of 

 the Aboriginals -wheiv in pursuit of so shy a lish as tlie Groper, and armed 

 with spear only, the same writer confines: — "The Aboriginal when seeking 

 this fish, armed with a couple of spears, prosecutes his search with cat-like 

 caution, and when in A'iew is as motionless as a statue, keeping, if necessary, 

 that position for a considerable time till a chance offers, when he darts one 

 of his spears with an unerring and powerful plunge into the fish, and fixes it 

 firmly to the rock or ground." 



The Blue G-roper is found abundantly in suitable localities along the 

 whole coastline of the Colony, and according to Mr. Thomas Stewart " there 

 is not a more prolific fishing ground on the east coast than the Bellinger 

 Bight for Snapper, Groper, and Rock Cod." 



Though first described from King George's Sound — where it is presumably 

 common, since Eicliardson, on the authority of IS^eill, states that it is known 

 to the Aborigines of that district by no less than three distinct names, 

 Koojenuck, Quejuinuck, and Knowl — it has not as yet been recorded from 

 any intermediate point on the Australian coast, though Johnston catalogues 

 it as common in Tasmania, nor is it mentioned by Saville Kent as occurring 

 in Queensland waters. 



The Blue Groper attains to a maximum weight of forty pounds, with a 

 length of three and a half feet. 



PLATTCIKEROPS BADIUS. 



Red Groper, 



B. vi. D. 11 10. A. 3/11. Y. 1/5. P. 17. C. U. L. lat. 4.3. L. tr. S/14. 



Length of head 3"80, of caudal fin 6"60, height of body 3"50 in the 

 total length. Eye rather small, its diameter 5"33 in the length of the head, 

 2'50 in the elongate rounded snout, and 2'00 in the broad, slightly convex 

 interorbital space. Xostrils small, the anterior opening at the extremity of a 

 low tube ; the posterior a little larger, oval, subhorizontal, midway between 

 the eye and the anterior nostril. Jaws equal : lips fleshy. Cleft of mouth 

 Bhort and horizontal, the maxilla not expanded beliind, and not extending 

 beyond the anterior nostril : intermaxillary processes reaching to about the 

 same distance, their length one third of that of the head. Length of preorbital 

 greater than its depth. U])per profile of snout slightly concave ; of occiput 

 slightly convex; a moderate protuberance in front of and between the anterior 

 margins of the eyes. Two pairs of strong canines in front of each jaw: a 

 lateral row of conical teeth, connected together by an osseous ridge beyond 

 which the teeth slightly protrude, and inside of which are a number o£ 

 irregular series of minute granular teeth : a strong posterior canine curving 

 inwards. The dorsal fin commences above the anterior angle of the base of the 

 pectoral, and terminates above the eighth anal ray ; the spines are stout, 

 strongly compressed, especially on their upper half, and increase in length 

 to the sixth, which is subequal to those which follow, one fourth of the 

 length of the head, and four sevenths of the longest (seventh) ray : the 

 anal commences beneath the first dorsal ray ; its spines are similar to, but 

 much longer and stronger than, those of the dorsal, the third the longest, not 

 so strong or so compressed as the second, four fifths of the longest (seventh) 

 ray, and 2'75 in the length of the head ; the rays longer than those of the 

 dorsal: ventral short and rounded, its length three fifths of the distance 

 between its origin and the vent, equal to the distance between the tip of the 



