THE SILVERBELLIES. 117 



in the case of a number of fishes which are not usually 

 considered as edible. However, there does not appear to 

 be any reason to think that the Salmon will have to go beg- 

 ging as a fertilizer when fishing operations and fish-preserv- 

 ing are carried on together on a large scale in our waters. 



The Salmon may be said to be one of our "game" 

 fishes. It readily takes a moving spoon or spinning-bait, 

 and affords some sport to anglers, particularly those of a 

 more adventurous nature. It commonly reaches a length 

 of 2 to 2 l / 2 feet, with a weight of 8 or 9 pounds. 



Though the Salmon has been here included in this 

 family of the Scicr.nidcB it should be mentioned that the 

 proper systematic position of the genus Arripis has been for 

 long a matter of some difference of opinion on the part of 

 naturalists, as the species of this genus show pronounced 

 affinities with families of fishes which are widely separated. 

 This makes it somewhat of a paradox. It is sometimes 

 placed with the Serranida. 



Another species of Arripis that is found on the south- 

 eastern and a portion of the southern coastline of Australia 

 is the fish known in South Australia and Victoria as 

 '"Roughy" (Arripis georgianus). This has no affinity with 

 the fish mentioned under the name of "Roughy" on page 89. 



THE SILVERBELLIES. 

 (Family: Gerridce.) 



\ NUMBER of species of the Silverbelly family are found 

 in Australian waters and they are chiefly of small size. The 

 principal one is the pretty little common Silverbelly 

 \Xystcema ovatiim). This fish is known from the coasts 

 of New South Wales and Queensland, there being, also, one 

 record of its occurrence on the shores of Western Australia. 

 It attains to a length of about 10 inches ; though the average 

 length of adult examples is from 7 to 8 inches. It is of a 

 most beautiful silvery colour; the back being tinged with 



