FISH IXDUSTRY. 219 



are very common along onr sliores, and are taken in quantities by 

 special small-meshed nets. The Sea Garfish, as its name implies, 

 frequents the outer beaclu's and those oi" the more open portions of our 

 bays and harbors, while its congener confines itself more strictly to 

 the tidal waters of our estuaries ; the deposition of the ova takes place 

 during- the three last months of the year, but as the parents rapidly 

 recoup they may be regarded as being in good condition all the year 

 round. I am not aware that any attempt has been made to preserve 

 these fishes by a similar process to that to which the halfgrown 

 Pilchards are subjected in order to convert them into sardines, ])ut I 

 have no shadow of a doubt that under a like mani})ulation they would as 

 far excel that fish in their tinned form as they do in their fresh. Of 

 course, for preserving in this way the immature Sea Garfish and the 

 River Garfish would be the more suitable. 



Percesoces. — Of the numerous families of fishes which frequent our 

 shores there are none of such commercial importance as that to which 

 the Sea Mullet and its allies {Muyiltdsj) belong. At least eight 

 species of Gray Mullets occur in greater or less abundance within our 

 limits, all of which are justly esteemed as food, and several of which 

 conjunctively constitute a large proportion of our fish supply. Some 

 of these are marine forms which at stated seasons make their way 

 from the open sea into our bays and estuaries for the purpose of 

 depositing their spawn ; others again inhabit the brackish water of 

 our estuaries at all seasons of the year; while yet another section, 

 whether from choice or otherwise, are permanent residents in fresh 

 water, and successfully propagate their species therein. 



In point of size and quality the Sea Mullet, Miigil dolnda, stands out 

 preeminent among its congeners, attaining to a weight of ten pounds 

 and upwards, and affording, in one or other of its stages of growth, 

 a permanent supply of excellent and wholesome food throughout the 

 year. 



During the latter pai-t of the summer and the autumn months enor- 

 mous shoals of these fishes make their appearance off the coast, moving 

 in a general northerly direction; these shoals are composed entirely of 

 adult individuals on the way to their spawning grounds, and are now 

 in the most perfect condition, and admirably adapted either for con- 

 sumption in a fresh state or for preservation ; it is to these shoals, while 

 on their annual migrations, that we must in future jook to supply the 

 ever increasing demand upon the resources of this our premier food fish. 



From these vast masses a larger or smaller portion breaks off at such 

 intervals of their passage northwards as enables it to arrive each at its 

 special breeding haunt in time for the autumnal spawning. In our 

 southern bays and estuaries this important function commences m 

 March, but the season grows gradually later as we proceed northwards, 

 until in the Richmond and Clarence district May, and even Juno, find 

 the shoals still engaged upon the spawning beds. 



As soon as the ova have been deposited upon the extensive mud fiats 

 which fringe the mouths of our rivers, the bulk of the fishes, such at 

 least as have survived the numerous dangers to which they have been 

 subjected on their passage to and during their operations on the spawn- 

 ing beds, make their wav individually or in snuill parties seawards and 

 the ova having meanwhile rapidl v germinated on the wann shallow fiats, 



