io 4 FISHES OF AUSTRALIA. 



sold in the Sydney Fish Markets are usually offered as 

 "Rock Cod" the prevalent idea being that they are simply 

 over-grown Black Rock Cod. Of course this idea is quite 

 erroneous, as they not only are distinct specifically, but also 

 belong to different genera ; as may have been noticed. 



This species has a very great geographical distribution, 

 being known from New Zealand and both coasts of tropical 

 America, north, to Florida and the Gulf of California and 

 south, to Brazil where it is not uncommon about rocks. 



In America it is known as "Spotted Jewfish." 



The head of one of this species (from the Clarence 

 River (N.S.W.), weighing 75 pounds, is now in the posses- 

 sion of the Department of Fisheries, New South Wales. The 

 fish from which this was taken weighed 250 pounds. 



The Giant Perch: This is another of our great edible 

 fishes. As far as Australia is concerned, it appears so far 

 to have only been obtained in the waters of Queensland and 

 Western Australia, being best known from the former State. 

 As it is a tropical species, it is more common in the nor- 

 thern parts, where it frequents the lower portions of the 

 rivers. It has a very extensive geographical distribution 

 being found in the seas of India and the Malay Archipelago. 

 It is highly probable that it will be found to occur along the 

 greater part, if not the whole, of the northern coastline of 

 Australia. A closely allied species (Lates niloticus) is 

 found in the waters of the Nile. In parts of Queensland, 

 this species (in common with two other fishes, which are 

 very distinct from one another) is known as "Barramundi" ; 

 but this name properly applied, belongs to the Osteoglossid 

 already mentioned (Scleropages leichhardti, p. 25). 



The Giant Perch attains to a weight of 40 to 50 

 pounds ; or perhaps even more. 



The Pearl Perch : This handsome and valuable fish 

 is another of our tropical or semi-tropical forms having its 

 principal home in the waters of Queensland. It has been 

 recorded from the waters of Western Australia. In Queens- 

 land it is known usually as "Epaulette-Fish." This name 

 is applied to it because of the presence on each shoulder, of 

 a comparatively large, irregularly-oval, bony shield, which 

 is covered with a shining black skin ; the bone which forms 



