A TOUGH DRUMMER. 53 
The Bluefish grows to a loneth of from 2 to 3 feet. 
Mr. Frank Farnel!. Chairman of the Board of Fisheries 
for New South Wales, who is the Visiting Magistrate for 
Lord Howe island (a small dependency of New South Wales, 
situated at a short distance from this coast, out in the Pacific 
Ocear), states that this species is exceedingly common around 
the shores of that island, and that it may be captured with 
ease and in great numbers. He considers that there is a good 
prospect for the developing of an extensive fishery in connec- 
tion with this fine food-fish. 
Drummer (Kyphosus sydneyanus). 
This fish, though quite abundant and growing to a large, 
size, is not esteemed as a food-fish, its flesh being tough and 
of inferior flavor. Young examples, known as “Silver 
Drummers,” up to a length of 9 or ro inches, however, are 
usually considered to be of fair quality. 
The Drummer is a rock-dweller and is herbivorous. In 
appearance it is verv different to the other members of this 
family, being altogether more rotund and “stumpy.” There 
is a knobby protuberance between the eyes. 
THE DUSKY PERCH. 
Dusky Pereh (Lobotes surinamensis). 
This is a large perch-like fish inhabiting the estuaries of 
our northern zivers. It reaches a length of 3 or 4 feet, and 
a weight of 25 or 30 pounds ; but being sparsely distributed, 
is not likely to be of much economic importance, as far as 
New South Wales is concerned. 
THE TRUE PERCHES. 
Estuary Perch (Percalates colonorum). 
PrarE XXII (Lower Figure). 
This well-known and important food-fish is an inhabitant , 
of the higher parts of our harbors and estuaries ; where 
