FISHES AND FISHING. 339 



surface, olivaceous brown, obscurely spotted with 

 patches of a deeper hue. Scales, small, roundish, 

 ciliated, rough to the touch; the upper side, appa 

 rently reticulated. Fins, tipped with purplish brown 

 stripes. Lower side, dull white, mixed with faint 

 purple. Iris, yellow. 



It is hardly required to say much of this almost 

 cosmopolitical fish, which is, for its delicacy, prized 

 as well at the Cape as elsewhere. It is not common, 

 however, in the colony, and it rarely surpasses the 

 length of twelve inches, although there are instances 

 known of individuals measuring a foot and a half. 

 KAID.E. 



42. RHESOBATUS ANNALATUS. A. Smith. (Zaud- 

 Itruiper.} Body convex above, level below, tapering 

 from head to tail. Head, flat, nearly three-sided ; 

 eyes small; teeth, crowded, paved, blunt; clusters 

 of small thorns between the eyes, and minute spines 

 along the dorsal line. Dorsal fins, two close to the 

 caudal, which is oval; ventral fins, small; skin, rough, 

 like shagreen. Length, two feet and upwards. Up 

 per side, yellowish grey, with a greenish shade, 

 sprinkled all over with white eye-like spots ; under- 

 surface, faint flesh-red, bordered with white. This 

 fish, which always dwells in localities where the 

 bottom of the sea is level and sandy, is rather scarce 

 in Table Bay. Its flesh is tender and delicate. 



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