THE BELOVED “ DARKIE.” Tai 
deep water, where it subsists chiefly upon starfishes, sand- 
worms, crustaceans, &c. One would think that the condition 
of the teeth at this stage might have something to do with 
this change of habitat, as they are then worn and often 
decayed. 
Black Bream (Chrysophrys australis). 
PuaTE XLVI. 
Of all the commercial fishes of New South Wales, this 
fine food-fish is undoubtedly the most important, while it is 
also the recognised premier of our coastal sporting-fishes. 
Wily and careful of nature, often the most tempting baits 
and finest of tackle have to be used before the Black Bream 
or “ Brim,” as it is familiarly called, can be inveigled into 
taking the angler’s hook, and when he is hooked, he is.a 
stubborn and courageous fighter. Handsome in appearance, 
and of fine flavor and consistency when cooked, as well 
as growing commonly to a good marketable size, there is 
little wonder that this fish has climbed so high in the public 
estimation; while, because of the characters previously 
mentioned, more devotees amongst our anglers are to be 
found worshipping at its shrine than falls to the lot of any 
other Australian fish. 
In a commercial way this species is captured usually 
by net (hauling or meshing), in or near the mouths of our 
harbours and estuaries, as well as in the coastal (salt water) 
lakes. In these localities immense hauls are often made. 
While it may properly be termed an estuary fish, large 
quantities are distributed at times along our beaches and 
around the rocky shores of our coastline; but it is rarely 
taken on what are termed the outside, or Snapper, grounds. 
It subsists mainly upon small crustaceans and mollusca 
(being at times highly destructive to young oysters), and 
is easily able to reduce to fragments even fairly stout shells, 
by means of the powerful molars on each side*of.its jaws. 
Some idea of its great importance as -a! food-fish may 
be gathered when I mention that a weight of about 1,350,000 
