180 EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



CLUPEA SAGAX. 



Clupea sngax, Jeuyns, Toy. Beagle, Fish. p. 134, IS 12; Gntli. Catal. Fish. 



vii, p. 413 ; Casteln. Proc. Zool. Soc. Yict. 1872, i. p. 187 ; Macleay, 



Proc. Linu. Soc. N. S. Wales, iv., p. 371 ; AVoods, Fisher. N. S. Wales, 



p. 86 ; Sherrin. Handb. N.Z. Fish. p. 71. 

 Alosa melanosficta, Cuv. A: A'al. Hist. Nat. Poiss. xx. ]). 114 (not Schleffel). 

 Meleita cccruJca, Girard, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. IS-jl, p. 138, and 



F.S. Pacif. R.E. Exped. Fish. p. 330, pi. Ixxv. ff. 5-7. 

 Alosa musica, (^irard, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1854, p. 199, and U.S. 



Nav. Astrou. Exped. Zool. p. 246, pi. xxxi. ff. 1-4. 

 Harenqula punctata, Bleek. A'erh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Jajian, p. 49 {not Cuv. Sf 



Val.) 

 Alausa californica. Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1862, p. 281. 

 Alosa Jlmbriata, Kncr. & Steindachn. SB. Ak. AVien, 1867, liv. p. 386, pi. XT. 



{not Spratella Jimhriata, Cuv. Sj Val.) 



Pilchard. 



Plate XLY. 



B. vii. D. 18-20. A. 18-20. Y. 8. P. 15. C. 17. L lat. 50-55. L. tr. 12-13. 



Yert. 19/31. 



Length of head 4-33-475, of caudal fin 5-oO-6-00, height of body 575- 

 6"75 in the total length. Eye moderate, with well developed adipose lid 

 reaching to the pupil both in front and behind, its diameter 3'66-4'00 in the 

 length of the head, and 1"10-1'25 in that of the snout, which is compressed 

 and moderately pointed : interorbital space flat, 1 50-1 '80 in the diameter of 

 the eye. Nostrils with a single orifice only, which is situated a little nearer 

 to the tip of the snout than to the orbit. Upper surface of head flat, with a 

 median longitudinal groove and lateral ridges, which form two groups of 

 striae on the occiput. Luwer jaw very slightly projecting. Cleft of mouth 

 moderate and oblique, the maxilla reaching to the vertical from the anterior 

 third of the eye. Opercle with very distinct radiating striae, descending 

 towards the subopercle. Teeth none. The distance between the origin of 

 the dorsal and Ihe snout is from 1'05-1'15 in that between the same point 

 and the base of the caudal; fifth and sixth dorsal rays the longest, 175-2-00 

 in the length of the head ; outer edge of the fin slightly emarginate ; its 

 basal length not so long as the longest ravs : anal fin low, with the anterior 

 rays the louge.'^t, and the last two slightly produced ; its basal length rather 

 more than that of the dorsal : ventral inserted slightly behind the middle of 

 the base of the dorsal, its length 275-3'00 in that of the head: pectoral 

 pointed, truncate posteriorly, r60-l"75 in the same length : caudal deeply 

 forked, the least height of its pedicle 2-50-275 in the height of the body. 

 Scales deciduous, finely striated : abdominal scutes not much developed, 

 about seventeen in front of, and eleven behind the origin of the ventrals. 

 Gillrakers fine, long, and closely set, equal in length to the diameter of the 

 eye. 



Colors. — Dark blue above, changing rather abruptly into the silvery of the 

 sides ; a series of round blackish spots along the middle of the sides. 



Though in all probability but few of the inhabitants of New South Wales 

 are aware of the fact, we have off our coast two species of Clupeid fishes, 

 the Southern Pilchard and the Maray {see p. 186) which annually pass 

 northwards along our shores in what is described as incredible multitudes ; 

 these are allowed to go absolutely free, and thus a valuable source of national 



