IIo THE EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW .SOUTH WALES. 
Bullrout (Notesthes robusta). 
Prate LXXVI. 
Though but little used, the Bullrout is of considerable 
value from an edible point of view. The reason that it is 
not usually regarded with favor is because of the dread in 
which it is held, on account of its power of inflicting the most 
painful of wounds, by means of two sharp spines on each 
side of the head. These spines are erectile at will, when they 
become really formidable weapons. One of them is short and 
triangular, while the other is long and thornlike. Owing to 
the Bullrout’s habit of lurking quietly in muddy localities 
amongst weed, the unwary wader is lable to feel the fish 
before he sees it; and if he once feels it he is never likely to 
forget it. 
This fish is distributed along the greater part of the New 
South Wales coastline, inhabiting the estuaries, particularly 
their upper portions, and penetrating right up into the fresh 
waters of creeks and rivers. As instances of this, I might 
mention that specimens are sometimes taken in the salt water 
of Botany Bay, while at the same time they are captured 
in the fresh water above the Canterbury Dam, while the species 
is found occurring in the waters of the Hawkesbury River 
from the lower part of its estuary right up into the Nepean. 
It appears to be most abundant, however, in the regions of 
brackish water. 
In appearance, the head of this grotesque-looking fish is 
strangely suggestive of a rhinoceros, there being a prominent 
“hump” on the snout before the eyes. 
As I mentioned in “‘ Fishes of Australia,’ there is an idea 
in certain quarters that the flesh of the Bullrout is poisonous, 
but this fear is altogether unwarranted, the flesh being both 
wholesome and usually palatable. 
The color is brownish, marbled with blackish. 
The Bullrout grows to a length of 10 to 12 inches. 
