8o THE EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
of our harbors—more particularly Port Jackson. It possesses 
a very compressed cr narrow, high body; the scales are quite 
small and adherent, the eye is fairly large and the mouth is 
small. When freshly captured the body is seen to be some- 
what of a uniform silvery blue, but this quickly changes to 
a dusky blackish tint—hence the vernacular name. Large 
numbers of the young of this fish are captured by boys 
around Port Jackson and are taken home and cooked, and 
there is no doubt that, though small, they make a very 
tasty dish. 
Batfish (Monodactylus argenteus). 
A common fish, most abundant in our northern harbors 
and estuaries. Although edible, and said to be of good 
quality, it is not at present of importance. It is such a deep- 
bodied fish that (exclusive of fins) the height is nearly as great 
as the length. It attains a length of 8 or 9 inches. 
CORAL FISHES. 
Butter-Fish (EL phippus multifasciatus). 
Pirate XLVIII. 
This species is very abundant in the estuaries of our 
northern rivers, and, occasionally, shoals of fair size have been 
noticed in the waters of Port Jackson. However, as it is not 
greatly esteemed as a table-fish, it forms but a small portion 
of the food-supply. The Butter-Fish attains exceptionally a 
length of 15 or 16 inches. 
It is an exceedingly pretty fish. The ground color is 
bright silver, and on this are displayed, at intervals, broad 
vertical broken bands of a dark-green color. These bands 
are composed of large elongated spots, and between them are 
shorter and narrower bands composed of smaller spots. 
Spotted Butter-Fish (Hphippus argus). 
This Butter-Fish is rare in New South Wales waters. In 
general form it is somewhat similar to the preceding, but may 
be at once distinguished by the presence of numerous dark 
rounded spots, of a fairly large size, on each side. 
