

LONG-TOMS, GARFISHES, FLYING-FISHES. 67 



acteristics. In the former the body is far more elongate 

 or slim ; the scales are much smaller and very deciduous, 

 coming off with the least handling; and the upper jaw has 

 a considerably greater length when compared with its width 

 at the base. 



The colours of the Sea Garfish are: "Back bright green, 

 with three narrow dark-brown streaks from the occiput to 

 the origin of the dorsal, immediately in front of which the 

 three meet. A silvery lateral band, broadest posteriorly, 

 and margined above by a narrower lead-coloured band. 

 Lower surfaces, pale-greenish-silvery; posterior part of the 

 ventrals and the pectorals dusky." (Ogilby.) 



The food of this fish consists of pelagic crustaceans, and 

 mollusks ; as well as of various seaweeds. 



The River Garfish: Little is known of the geo- 

 graphical distribution of this fish outside the limits of the 

 New South Wales coastline; though, it occurs in Victoria, 

 Southern Queensland, and, apparently, also in Western 

 Australia. In New South Wales it is highly abundant ; par- 

 ticularly along the central area. It is one of those fishes 

 that are "with us always"; its natural habitat being the 

 coastal lakes and harbours and estuaries; in some instances 

 extending almost up to the regions of fresh-water. Large 

 numbers of this delicious little fish are to be seen daily in 

 the various fish-markets in Sydney. Some idea of the great 

 importance of the Garfishes in the fisheries of New South 

 Wales alone may be gathered from the fact that about 5000 

 baskets* of them are marketed annually. The great bulk of 

 these is River Garfish. In addition to this number, great 

 quantities are captured at various places and "hawked" 

 round by the fishermen themselves, without the fish having 

 passed through the markets at all. 



The River Garfish attains a weight of from 8 to 9 

 ounces, with a length of 13 or 14 inches ; those usually cap- 

 tured by the fishermen however, average from 2 to 4 ounces. 

 As previously pointed out it is more robust in form though 

 smaller than the Sea Garfish. 



The colours are as follows : Back pale-green ; the upper 

 surface of the head darker, and with golden reflections. 



* A " basket " equals about 70 to 80 pounds weight. 



