THE HERRING FAMILY. 29 



another in enormous quantities on our coasts. The people 

 of New South Wales aiuf other States in the Australian 

 Commonwealth have been brought up from childhood to 

 think only of "the land" and land-problems : to the almost 

 utter neglect of the sea and its marvellously-bountiful sup- 

 plies. With the exception of ''hand-lining" on outside 

 grounds, practically no fishing methods are practised along 

 our coasts excepting the ordinary ones, whereby hauling or 

 meshing-nets are used in the friendly shelter of our har- 

 bours and lakes ; or, occasionally on outside beaches. This 

 is not the place for me to go into a general dissertation 

 upon our wilful neglect of what should be one of our great 

 national assets ; but I trust that the few remarks here offered 

 will assist in directing the attention of persons of enterprise 

 and resource to a matter so well meriting their attention. 



The Pilchard commonly attains a length of 9 or 10 

 inches. In colour it is dark-blue, bluish-green, or greenish- 

 brown above; changing rather suddenly into the silvery 

 colour of the sides. Along each side is a series of darker 

 blotches, making the fish, when viewed from above, very 

 similar to a very different fish the Common Mackerel. 

 Curiously enough, too, small bodies of the Pilchards are 

 often found among Mackerel of the same size, and vice 

 versa. 



The Pilchard has an enormous range. It occurs along 

 a very great portion of the Australian coastline, being par- 

 ticularly common in the Eastern waters.* It is also quite 

 .common in the waters of New Zealand, where it is some- 

 times known as "Picton Herring." Beyond these waters, 

 it is found in the Seas of Japan and China, and also along 

 the Pacific Coast of America, from the shores of California 

 to those of Chile. In the United States of America, it is 

 known as California Herring. 



The Herring is a comparatively short, deep-bodied 

 fish, having a sharp-edged, serrated lower surface. It is 

 found along our Eastern Coast in large numbers, being fre- 

 quently obtained when not in the schooling season in the 

 company of the pretty little Silver-Belly. 



* It has been recorded from the waters of Western Australia, 

 where it is stated to be very common. 



