FISHES AND FISHING. 329 



Caught in winter at both ends of the colony ; its 

 flesh is well flavoured and wholesome. 



31. STROMATETJS CAPENSIS. Mihi. N. Sp. (Katun- 

 Icar.) Body, compressed, oblong rhomboid; head, 

 obtuse; mouth, small, not projectile; teeth, velvety. 

 One dorsal only, covered with epidermis ; no ventral 

 fin ; caudal nearly as long as the dorsal ; tail, forked 

 scales, small ; longitudinal line almost straight. 

 Head, olive green ; upper part of the body light blue, 

 with some faint yellow longitudinal stripes ; belly, 

 silvery, with a red tint ; iris, white. The specimen 

 from which this description is drawn, measured thir 

 teen inches long, and five and a-half inches broad. 



A good table fish, but not common. It is caught 

 with the hook and net, chiefly east of Table Bay. 



32. LEPIDOPUS AKGYREUS. Cuv. and Vat. (Kalk- 

 visch, Scabbard-fish.) Body, compressed, lengthened, 

 narrow, riband-like ; skin smooth. Head pointed, 

 bearing a great resemblance to that of the snook. 

 Mouth, gaping, large, armed with B rows of strong 

 trenchant teeth, and four larger ones in front ; under- 

 jaw projecting beyond the upper. Dorsal fin, low 

 and equal, nearly as long as the back ; pectoral fins, 

 small, hooked ; two round scales as rudiments of a 

 ventral fin. Anal fin, short ; caudal, small, forked. 

 Lateral line, straight. Colour of back faint steel blue 

 on a silvery ground ; the whole surface of the body 



Y2 



