nSJI TXDUSTRr. 



its size, or tlie delicacy of its flesh, is the Flat-tailed Mullet, Uiuyd 

 jieroni, which, though ne^er attaining to the same dimensions, nor, in 

 general estimation, to an equal standard of excellence as its more 

 favored relative, is, nevertheless, a good fish for the table, and as well 

 adapted for smoking as is that species. 



The spawning season corresponds in tlic ni:iin with that nf the Sea 

 Mullet, but apparently extends over a longer i)eriod, specimens with full v 

 developed ova being obtainable in the Sydney markets at anv tim'o 

 between December and June. They chiefly frequent shallow 'sandy 

 and sheltered bays, and have not been proved to migrate along the coast 

 to the same degree as do their larger congeners, though a partial move- 

 ment from one inlet to another, induced doubtless by the restlessness 

 consequent upon the approach of the spawning season, is said to bo 

 perceptible. 



Aeantliopterygii — Among the Acanthupterygians pro])er, the first 

 family to claim attention is the Berijcichv, to which the Nannygai, 

 Beryx affinis, one of our most delicious edible fishes, belongs. They 

 are only caught by hook in moderately deep water, and, being in great 

 demand, the small supply which finds its way to the markets is eayerly 

 purchased at high rates. It is one of the most beautiful of all our 

 fishes, attains to a length of twenty inches, and is said to be a great 

 delicacy when slightly corned and smoked. 



Several kinds of scombroid fishes frequent our coast, the most 

 important of which is the Southern Mackerel, Scumhrr (ntstralasiruft, 

 That enormous shoals of these fishes visit our shores Ave cannot but 

 believe on the evidence adduced, but the intervals between these 

 appearances are so irregular, that the idea of a remunerative fisher^' 

 dependent on the Mackerel alone is not for a moment to be entertained. 

 The paucity or abundance of the supply of food is probably responsible 

 in great measure for this irregularity of behaviour, so far at least as 

 their presence in our bays and inlets is concerned, but it docs not in 

 such a degree affect the great shoals, which, by general consensus of 

 ppinion, are believed to pass northwards in the offing at or about mid- 

 summer, as with these shoals, being fully engrossed in the business of 

 spawning or of reaching- their accustomed spawning grounds, food is 

 a secondary consideration. As is the case with the Pilchard and other 

 ocean surface fishes, the Mackerel shed their spawn in, the open sea cii 

 masse ; owing to the contained oil globule, the ova are lighter than 

 the sperm of the male fish, and, as when engaged in spawning the 

 females swim at a slightly deeper level than the males, each extruded 

 ovum as it rises gradually to the surface is obliged to pass through the 

 slowly sinking masses of spermatozoa, and thus becomes impregnated 

 and fruitful; the ova floating on the surface quickly germinate, and 

 the liberated fry are wafted from place to place under the influence of 

 the tides, currents, and winds, until, the yelk-bag being exhausted, the 

 young fish enters nntrammeled upon the primal phase of its free exist- 

 ence. Either fresh or pickled Mackerel are delicious eating, but they 

 decompose with such rapidity that great care has to be exercised in 

 selecting individuals for use at the table. 



Among the Scads {Carangidx) we find several species Avhlch, from 

 their numerical abunchxnce and their excellent food qualities, play uo 

 inconsiderable part in the fish resources of the Colony. 



