THE MULLET FAMILY. 77 



the mouths of the inlets out of the reach of the main 

 southerly current. In connection with this, I might here 

 mention that, on the coast of New South Wales there is 

 generally a slight "northerly set," close inshore; this, at 

 times, becomes quite strong; chiefly in prolonged southerly 

 weather, and it must assist in a measure, in counteracting 

 the influence of the southerly current. 



I would ask the reader to pay particular attention to 

 what is here written in regard to the spawning and the 

 migrations of the Sea Mullet, as the same remarks might, 

 with certain necessary modifications, be applied to a number 

 of other species. 



The Sea Mullet attains maturity at the age of 4 years, 

 males then being about 15 or 16 inches in length: while the 

 females measure about 18 inches. As in many other fishes, 

 females of equal age with males, are a good deal larger than 

 the latter. 



This fish grows to a weight of over 10 pounds, with 

 a length of nearly 30 inches. The largest examples usually 

 come from the various lakes and small lagoons along the 

 New South Wales coast. 



In regard to the reproductive power of the Sea Mullet, 

 I might state that the ripe roe of an ordinary large female 

 contains an enormous number of eggs; probably consider- 

 ably over a million. 



As a great deal of confusion exists in the popular mincl 

 in regard to the identity of our Mullets, the following points 

 will be found of use. The Sea Mullet may be at once distin- 

 guished from any of the others mentioned herein, by the 

 fact that it has a thick, transparent, fleshy lid surrounding 

 and almost completely covering the eye ; and, also, that there 

 are from 40 to 42 transverse rows of scales along the body 

 from the operculum to the root of the tail. 



The colours are as follows: Steel blue, with a tinge of 

 green or olive, above ; sides and lower surfaces silvery. 

 There is a small black spot at the root of the pectoral fin 

 and a golden spot diffused on the edges on the upper 

 angle of the operculum. The dorsal and pectoral fins are a 

 dark bluish-grey, while the caudal and anal fins are yellowish- 

 green. 



