PREFACE. v 



In regard to the illustrations, which have been repro- 

 duced in such an excellent manner by the publishers, I 

 may mention that these have been drawn from various 

 sources. The Frontispiece, all of the life-like full-page 

 plates excepting Plate IX., and the illustration of the 

 Goblin-Fish (Fig. 68), have been reproduced by means of 

 photography, directly from the fishes themselves ; the 

 latter having been previously specially preserved by me to 

 enable this to be successfully carried out. The original 

 fishes are included in the working-collection of the Board 

 of Fisheries for New South Wales, and it is due to the 

 kindness of that body of gentlemen that I am enabled to 

 present these splendid likenesses to the people. A 

 number of the figures in the text (including those of the 

 scales) are from my own pen, while among others I have 

 to acknowledge the works of such renowned ichthyolo- 

 gists as Giinther, Day, and Jordan and Evermann. I have 

 likewise to tender my sincere thanks to my honored friend 

 Dr. James C. Cox, M.D., F.R.C.S.E., for the loan of 

 several useful, and hitherto unpublished, drawings. 



It is hoped that this work may pave the way for the 

 production of a complete popular and systematic illus- 

 trated catalogue of Australian Fishes; this being recog- 

 nised as of the utmost necessity and undoubtedly of the 

 highest educational importance. The present volume would 

 not be superseded by such a work, but would act as a 

 kind of introduction or handbook to it. 



That this may be the means of turning more attention 

 to the vast neglected resources lying in the waters en- 

 circling our Island-Continent is my earnest wish. 



DAVID G. STEAD. 

 Department of Fisheries, 



New South Wales, 



nth August, 1906. 



