South Wales. 176c 



" The fishing industry as yet may be regarded as in its infancy. This is shown by the fact 

 that the only nets in general use by the fishermen are the ordinary trawling seines and mashing 

 nets, while there is only one style of boat, a model of which is exhibited in the Court. 



" It may not be out of place here to draw attention to some of the principal features of the 

 New South Wales Court, among which may be enumerated the large Sunfish, Orthagoriscus, 

 sp., the Luth, Dermatochelys coriaceus, the group of Pe'ron's Seals, Otaria cinerea, exhibited 

 for the first time in England and Europe, the large collection of food-fishes, stuifed . and in 

 spirits. The Sponges and Oysters deserve attention, while the walls are decorated by life- 

 sized oil-paintings of fishes and large photographs of the fish-markets and certain of the 

 Government offices and other magnificent buildings, highly creditable to Mr. James Baruet, 

 the colonial architect." 



New South Wales exhibits chiefly a large collection of the Fishes of the Colony preserved in 

 spirits. These are all food fishes, and such as from time to time at various seasons of the year 

 find their way to the fish markets. The number of species exceeds 150 kinds, and are repre- 

 sented by 300 specimens. The freshwater species, such as the Murray Cod, and various kinds 

 of Perch and Bream, Herrings, &c., are well represented. A catalogue, now in preparation, and 

 which will be ready for distribution in a few days, contains a detailed list of these fishes 

 (see Special Catalogue of the New South Wales Court), and also notes on a fine Collection 

 of Sponges from Port Jackson and the adjacent coast. A Collection of Echinodermata and 

 Crustacea. Zoophytes, &c., and Polyzoa from the same localities. A group of Eared Seals, 

 Arctocephalus cinereus, consisting of adults and young, is exhibited on the left of the entrance 

 to the Court. Two well prepared specimens (male and female) of the Dugong, Halicore 

 Australis, and oil and lard obtained from these strange animals, are also exhibited. In the 

 side Cases are exhibited, besides the stuffed fish, a large collection of Oysters, of sixty varieties, 

 from different leased beds in New South Wales. There is also a collection of other Edible 

 Mollusca, such as the Turbo, Haliotis or Mutton Fish, Cardiums, &c., &c. The walls are 

 decorated with oil-paintings of the principal food-fishes and numerous photographs of 

 Australian "scenery and public buildings. Fish Oils are represented by the oils obtained 

 from the Grey Mullet, and various species of Sharks and Rays, of which stuffed specimens 

 are also exhibited. The collections are chiefly of a scientific nature, but the numerous 

 kinds of fishes show that large fisheries are capable of being developed in the Australian 

 waters, particularly of the Grey Mullets, Herrings, Schnapper, and the Murray Cod and 

 Perch. Other exhibits, consisting of Preserved Fish of several kinds, and Oysters in tins, 

 are exhibited on the eastern side of the Court. 



The so-called "Murray Cod" or "Macquarie Cod" (Oligorus macquariensis) is the largest 

 of our freshwater fishes, sometimes weighing over 100 Ibs. When at a weight of from 3 Ibs. to 

 10 Ibs. it is considered most marketable, and is without doubt a most delicious fish-. It 

 abounds in most of the rivers north of Sydney and in those of the western watershed, as the 

 Murray and Macquarie and their numerous tributaries, affording good sport for anglers and a 

 valuable supply of food ; they are usually taken for market with the Trammel, or Bag-net, 

 set across the stream, or by hook and line. They have also been introduced into several of 

 the inland lakes nearer Sydney, such as Lake George. Lake Batlmrst, &c., where they thrive 

 remarkably well, becoming immense fish and exceedingly fat. A large specimen, wnich weighed 

 about 20 Ibs., is exhibited in front of case No. 3. 



Large quantities are daily, during the cold months, sent to the Melbourne and Adelaide 

 markets from the Murray and its numerous tributaries ; the supply for the Sydney markets 

 is obtained from Lake George and from the Macquarie River, but chiefly from the Murrum- 

 bidgee, being forwarded by train from Wagga. 



Two species of Murray Cod are recognized by naturalists, the Oligorus macquariemis, Cuv. 

 et Val., and Oligorus mitchelli, Castleneau. 



The next fishes of importance, all of which are considered great delicacies, are the Golden 

 Perch, Ctenolates ambiguus (Dules auratus, Richardson), Ctn. chrysti, Cast., and Ctn. flavescens, 

 Giinth. C. amliguus is found in considerable numbers in the Victorian fresh waters and at 

 Wagga on the Murrumbidgee. C. /avesceras/equally plentiful, is, I believe, confined to the 

 upper waters of the Macquarie, in New South Wales ; here we also have the Silver Perch 

 (Therapon Richanlsoni, Cast.) and T. macleai/ana, Ramsay, in considerable numbers, although 



