112 THE EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
Mr. R. E. Eastway, the authority before-quoted, con- 
siders that in fishing for common Flathead with hook and 
line, the following is most suitable:—A No. 12 varnished 
silk twist, or a No. 40 thread, line, about 50 yards long; with 
a 4/o or 5/o hook, on twisted gut, phosphor-bronze wire, 
or gimp. A medium running sinker is best for most places; 
but if the boat is moored, the bait should be kept on the 
move all the time. 
Rock Flathead (Platycephalus levigatus). 
This Flathead does not enter largely into consumption 
in New South Wales, as it—being a southern species—only 
begins to occur in abundance (as far as New South Wales 
is concerned) along the southernmost portion of the coastline. 
It is a smaller species than the preceding, and is much 
narrower and rounder in the body. 
Sand Flathead (Platycephalus bassensis). 
Puate LXXVIII. 
Sometimes known as Red Flathead. It is captured in 
abundance by line at sea, on sandy bottoms, in water of 
from a few fathoms deep down to moderate ocean depths. 
It is an important food-fish growing to a large size, and 
occurring in such abundance as to warrant a much greater 
amount of attention being given to its capture than is the 
case at present. 
This species is reddish in color, with bluish spots dis- 
tributed over the upper surface. 
Long-spined Flathead (Platycephalus longispinis). 
This is the smallest of our commercial species. It is 
usually captured by line at sea in much the same situations 
as the Sand Flathead, though not so abundantly. Only the 
largest examples may be termed marketable as the species 
only grows to a length of 12 or 13 inches, and is sexually 
mature at a length of 7 or 8 inches. The name “ Spikey ”’ 
is applied to this fish by the comparatively few fishermen 
who come in contact with it, on account of the huge and 
