66 FISHES OF AUSTRALIA. 



proximating to that of a grain of so-called "pearl" tapioca 

 when boiled. 



The Sea Garfish is found in abundance along the 

 greater part of the Australian coastline (including Tas- 

 mania) ; as well as in New Zealand, the Seas of China, 

 Japan, the Malay Archipelago and other waters. From an 

 economic standpoint it must be considered as one of our 

 most important food-fishes. Great numbers of them are 

 captured during the summer months in the lower parts of 

 the harbours and estuaries lying within the waters of New 

 South Wales ; the usual means of capture being the so- 

 called Garfish-net (also known as "Balloo-net," from the 

 Port Jackson aboriginal name of "Ballob" ; which was ap- 

 plied to Garfish) ; a net which possesses a mesh of i in. 

 in the bunt or central portion, the wings or ends being 2 in. 

 This may be used ( I ) either as a simple Hauling-net, when* 

 the Garfish are on the weedy bottoms (where the eggs 



Fig. 25. SEA GARFISH (Hemirhamphus mtermedms). 



which are demersal, and attached are deposited) ; or (2) 

 as a Meshing-net, when the fish are in large schools at the 

 surface of the water. In the latter case the process fol- 

 lowed is what is termed "Bull-ringing" ; the net being 

 thrown in a circle right round the school. The Sea Garfish 

 is also captured by means of hook and line, to my know- 

 ledge, on the coasts of New South Wales and New Zealand. 

 From an edible point of view, this species and the River 

 Garfish are second to none ; the flesh being white, flaky, firm 

 and delicious. These fishes also keep sound, under natural 

 conditions, for a longer period than do most others. Of the 

 two species here mentioned, the Sea Garfish is usually by 

 far the larger, attaining a total length of more than 18 

 inches, with a weight of up to 10 ounces; the usual "run" 

 of those marketed, is however, considerably below that size. 

 The Sea Garfish may be distinguished from the River 

 Garfish in a rough-and-ready manner by the following char- 



