AUSTRALIAN FISHES 135 



caring to be disappointed of my early-morning 

 swim across the cove, I looked carefully round, 

 and, perceiving no sign of the shark, made 

 straight from point to point in deep water. 

 When half-way across, one of my legs acci- 

 dentally struck the surface of the water, and I 

 thought the shark was after me. I had about 

 half a mile to swim ; I dared not look back, but 

 expected every instant I should lose a limb or 

 limbs. I never in my life swam faster, and when 

 I reached land, panting and exhausted, I found 

 I had been the victim of a false alarm, as not a 

 shark was visible. 



I must not conclude this notice of Antipodean 

 fishes without a brief reference to those of New 

 Zealand, although I have no personal experience 

 of any, save barracoutas in Bass's Strait, of 

 which there are an incredible number, and 

 perhaps they afford more real sport than any 

 other Australian fish, for they show determined 

 fight. 



Fly-fishing can be indulged in with beautiful 

 trout, 3 Ibs. to 4 Ibs. weight, that readily rise to 

 the lure. Then there are heavy trout of 20 Ibs. 

 weight to be captured by spinning, or with 

 native whitebait, at night. There are also salmon 

 to be caught, besides several kinds of fresh and 



