50 THE EDIBLE FISHES. OF: NEW SOUTH WALES. 
In a commercial way, the Blackfish is usually captured 
by means of the hauling net (a seine-nct), but as it is also a 
great fighter when hooked, it is much sought after by amateur 
fishermen with rod and line, or with line only, the bait used 
being a hairy-looking green seaweed. It is very properly 
regarded as one of the principal estuary gamce-fishes. 
Mr. R. E. Eastway furnishes me with the following in- 
formation in regard to the capture of the Blackfish by means 
of rod and line:—These fish are caught with a rod (a fairly 
stiff one, 12 feet long, is used), a 3-inch wood Nottingham reel, 
a No. 60 50-yard thread line, a 3-feet gut cast, on the end of 
the line, a No. 9 small stout hook, a light float fixed 4 feet 
from hook, and just enough lead on the cast to cock the 
float. 
The average weight of adult Blackfish obtained for market 
would run about 1 to 2 pounds, but examples up to a weight 
of as much as 6 pounds are known. 
As showing the great economic value of this fish, I may 
state that during a recent year a quantity of about 15,000 
baskets was marketed in New South Wales. This quantity 
would be equivalent to about 1,125,000 pounds. 
It is of great gencral interest to mention here, that I have 
made the discovery that the fish which has been hitherto known 
here (in literature principally) as “‘ Ludrick,’ is the female 
Blackfish. In this, the teeth have a smooth, even, chisel-like 
cutting edge, whereas in the male they are, as indicated in 
the specific name, tricuspid. 
As long ago as 1846, these chisei-toothed females were 
described as a distinct species by Richardson, and they have 
been known here for many years under the technical name 
of Girella simplex. It will, therefore, come as a surprise to 
many to learn that the differences between the tricuspid- 
toothed and the chisel-toothed Blackfish are not specific, but 
merely sexual. 
Ogilby, in his “ Edible Fishes and Crustaceans of New 
South Wales,” published in 1893, gave a complete description 
