92 THE EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
fishes were gutted before being forwarded to market, they 
would arrive in a very different state to that in which they 
are. often to be seen. At the present time, the average 
fisherman feels rather aggrieved if a few Tailer are enclosed 
in his net, as they have a troublesome habit of rushing the 
net, snapping at it with those awful jaws and making holes 
to let themselves and other fishes out. 
As a smoked fish the Tailer is “ really excellent,” that 
being the universal opinion; and from an economic point of 
view, undoubtedly there is a great future before it. In the 
United States of America, at the present time, great quantities 
are captured and sold, either in a fresh condition or preserved 
in a smoked or pickled state; the amount consumed annually 
in the country mentioned aggregating many millions of pounds 
in weight. 
In New South Wales waters the Tailer attains a length 
of about 3 feet. 
Dart (Trachinotus russel’). 
Pirate LXII. 
This food-fish is not often represented in our markets, 
being a northern species. Occasionally, however, it makes 
an appearance in waters as far south as Port Jackson or 
Botany Bay, when small quantities are forwarded to market. 
During the winter of 1907, several baskets* were taken in 
one haul at Botany Bay. As an edible fish it is of considerable 
value, and as it is very pleasing to the eye, its importance 
in our future fisheries should be very much greater than at 
present. 
From other edible fishes the Dart may be at once dis- 
tinguished by its long “‘ swallow-tail,”’ and the greatly pro- 
duced and pointed dorsal and anal fins. For the benefit of 
those who are familiar with American food-fishes, it may be 
mentioned that it is the species of the same genus as this 
(Tvachinotus) which are known in America as Pompanos. 
The average length of those marketed in New South 
Wales is from 12 to 15 inches. 
* A basket is equal to a weight of about-75 pounds. 
