THE VALUABLE MULLET. 4I 
equal age with females being much-smaltler. The largest. 
examples usually come from the various lakes and small 
lagoons along the New South Wales coast.* 
This fine and exceedingly valuable food-fish possesses 
great potentialities for the future; but even at the present 
time it is captured and disposed of in large numbers. So 
good is the flesh, from an edible standpoint, that in addition 
to being universally used under its rightful title, it is often 
to be found taking the place—and under the names—of 
fishes of greater pretentions, and giving as much satisfaction 
as if it had been the latter. During a recent year in New 
South Wales, about 45,000 baskets of mullet, of about 75 
pounds weight each, were received for disposal in the various 
fish markets. These were principally Sea Mullet of from 
about half a pound in weight upwards (but would include 
also other kinds of mullet), and taking them all through 
the year they would average, say, about 1 pound in weight, 
this giving us the imposing total of 3,375,000 individuais. 
Of course, during the spawning season, when the Sea Mullet 
are massed together, and may be captured in practically 
unlimited quantities, the average weight of those captured 
might be set down at about 3 pounds. 
I might mention that large numbers are disposed of at 
various centres and in country districts, of which it is hardly 
possible at present to obtain an account, as they do not 
necessarily pass through any recognised market. The numbers 
so disposed of would considerably augment those given above. 
The Sea Mullet takes the smoke admirably, and makes 
a fine-quality tinned fish; when the latter, being somewhat 
allied to, and in the opinion of many, superior to, tinned 
salmon, though without the reddish tint of the flesh of the 
latter, and with a suggestion of the flavor of “ Fresh (tinned) 
Herrings.” 
The mature Sea Mullet is a fish of heavy build; stout, 
“full in the belly,” and with a very broad head, somewhat 
flattened above. The scales are moderately large and are 
* For a fuller reference to this species and its habits, see my ‘“ Fishes of 
Australia,” (1906), pp. 74-77. 
