9 <> FISHES OF AUSTRAL/ A. 



THE PERCH FAMILY. 



( Family : Serranidce. ) 



THIS is one of the most important families of Austialian 

 fishes, as it contains many valuable food-fishes. Nearly all 

 are marine, but a few are found in fresh-water. As it will 

 be impossible here, to mention in detail even half of the 

 number, I will have to content myself with a review of the 

 principal ones. These are as follows : The Estuary 

 Perch (Percolates colonor-imi), the Fresh-water Perch 

 (Percolates fluviatilis), the Golden Perch or Yellow-belly 

 (Plectroplites ambiguus), Macquarie's Perch (Macquaria 

 australasica) , the Murray Cod (Oligorus macquariensis) , 

 the Wirrah (Acanthistins serratus), the Black Rock-Cod 

 (Spinephelus dcemetii) ; the Queensland Groper (Promi- 

 crops itaiara] ; the Giant Perch (Lates calcarifer) ; the 

 Pearl Perch (Glaucosoina scapulare) ; the Old Wife (Hno- 

 pl&sus armatus), and the Long-finned Pike (Dinolestes 

 lewini). Amongst the smaller species of the family is the 

 interesting little Soldier-Fish (Apogon fasciatus). 



The Estuary Perch is a familiar object to most 

 people, in the States of New South Wales and Victoria at 

 least, as a few are generally to be seen amongst the fish in 

 every fishmonger's stall. Particularly is this so after 

 heavy freshets in our coastal rivers, and during the winter 

 months. After heavy rains have fallen on the watershed 

 of say, one of the coastal rivers, there is in a short time 

 a superabundance of fresh-water, heavily charged with silt 

 and often decayed vegetable matter in the tidal portions of 

 the river ; and this has the effect of driving out to the lower 

 and clearer estuarine or harbour waters, most of the inhabi- 

 tants, chief amongst which are the Estuary Perch. As 

 there are then very many more fish in a given area than 

 previously, the fisherman is enabled to reap a richer harvest 

 with his meshing-nets and hauling-nets. The same applies 

 in the winter time, when these fishes come down of their 

 own free will to the open waters for the purpose of 

 spawning. 



The Estuary Perch is common along the Australian 



