THE PERCH FAMILY. 101 



only a very large Murray Cod could take such a "morsel" 

 as this. 



Hand-lines both with and without rods are used, prin- 

 cipally by amateur fishermen. It is not a mode of fishing 

 much in favour with those who have to depend upon it for 

 a living. 



Set-lines embrace what are termed "side-lines" and 

 ''cross-lines." Side-lines are set along the bed of the stream, 

 parallel with the banks and are generally of either manila 

 rope or copper wire, and may be of any length up to a quar- 

 ter of a mile. On these, short sections of lines called 

 "snoods" are fastened every 3 or 4 yards, and to these 

 snoods the hooks are attached. Cross-lines are made on a 

 plan very similar to that followed in the making of the side- 

 lines, excepting that the hooks are closer together and are 

 fastened to snoods about I foot, or more, in length. They 

 are set across the river, creek, or lagoon, as the case may 

 be, and large catches often result from their use. 



The bait used is of a most heterogeneous character. 

 As tending to show how impartial the Murray Cod is, T 

 may here state that the following animals or portions of 

 them, are used (in addition to others) : Rabbits, opossums, 

 birds of many kinds, various species of fishes (including 

 portions of Murray Cod itself), frogs, c^yfishes, grubs and 

 even those betes noires of Murray-Cod fishermen, the turtles, 

 yuite a large trade is carried on in some parts of the 

 Lower Murray with the grub known under the aboriginal 

 name of "Pallety" or "Bardo." This grub is the larval form 

 of one of the wood-boring beetles (Phoracantha) . They 

 are obtained from the roots of mallee, wattle and native 

 honeysuckle, principally during the months of September, 

 October and November. Fishermen buy them at the rate 

 of about 35. 6d. per 100. "Pallety" seems, from all accounts, 

 to be a tit-bit far too inviting for a Murray Cod to refuse, 

 consequently it is in great request. 



The principal kind of net in use is that known as the 

 Drum-net, which, briefly stated, is a large cage having a 

 funnel entrance. To this cage or trap are attached "wings" 

 of varying length, for the purpose of guiding the fishes into 

 the centre. The body-portion or trap-proper is supported 



