A FAVORITE TABLE-FISH. 37 
River Garfish (Hemirhamphus reqularis). 
PuaTe XI. 
This garfish is still more important than the previously- 
mentioned one, and is one of the principal, as well as one 
of the most frequently seen, fishes of the fish markets of 
New South Wales. It naturally abounds in the coastal 
lakes, harbors, and estuaries; in some instances extending 
almost up to the regions of fresh water. 
As I have pointed out in my “ Fishes of Australia,” 
some idea of the great importance of the garfishes in the 
fisheries of New South Wales alone may be gathered from 
the fact that about 5,000 baskets of them are marketed 
annually. The great bulk of these is River Garfish. In 
addition to this number, great quantities are captured at 
various places and ‘‘ hawked”’ round by the fishermen them- 
selves, without the fish having passed through the markets 
at all. 
The River Garfish attains a weight of from 8 to 9 ounces, 
with a length of 13 or 14 inches; those usually captured by 
the fishermen, however, average from 2 to 4 ounces. As 
previously pointed out, it is more robust in form—though 
smaller—than the Sea Garfish. 
The colors are as follow :—Back, pale green; the upper 
surface of the head darker, and with golden reflections. 
Three narrow black vertebral streaks, not extending so far 
back as the dorsal fin.. Two similar but irregular and broader 
streaks between these and the broad lateral silvery band, 
which is bordered above by a narrow orange streak. There 
is a faint black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. 
The River Garfish is usually found in considerable 
abundance on sand-and-mud flats, where these are covered 
with “‘ sea-grass,”’ upon which it, to a great extent, subsists. 
Barred Garfish (Hemirhamphus far). 
This large garfish appears to be fairly common at times 
in the waters of the northern portion of our coast. It attains 
