20 



FAMILY SCOMBRIDsE (Mackerels). 

 Auxis thazard (Lacipbde). Frigate Mackerel 



During 1903 a small shoal of this species made its appearance 

 in the waters of Port Jackson, and two specimens were forwarded 

 to the Department of Fisheries for determination. These were 

 both about 300 mm. in length. As this widely-distributed 

 pelagic fish usually roams about in large shoals, it is highly 

 probable that they were present in considerable quantities in the 

 vicinity of Port Jackson at the time the specimens above referred 

 to were taken. 



When freshly taken, these examples had the appearance of 

 polished lead, and appeared to be familiar to some of the Sydney 

 fishermen, who called them "Leadenalls." 



In 1878, Castelnau described in the Proceedings of the Linnean 

 Society of New South Wales*, under the title of Auxis ramsayi, 

 a species which is probably identical with the one under discussion. 

 Castlenau stated that "on the 6th April, 1878, numerous 

 specimens of this species appeared in the Sydney market. The 

 fishmongers called them horse-mackerel" Macleay included it in 

 his catalogue!, and stated that it was the " Horse Mackerel of 

 the Sydney fishermen." This, however, is slightly incorrect, as 

 the Horse Mackerel of the Sydney fishermen is Sarda chilensis 

 (Cuvier and Valenciennes). 



It is of interest to note that Auxi* thazard was first described 

 in 1801 from a locality between 6 and 7 S. lat., on the coast of 

 New Guinea. J 



Germo germo (Lac^pede). Albaccre. 



An example of this species ran ashore at Port Macquarie 

 during 1903. The fish was in pursuit of small fry at the time. 

 Mr. J. B. Grane, Inspector of Fisheries, who forwarded the 

 head, tail, and fins for identification, furnished the following 

 particulars, taken while the specimen was fresh : " Length, 43J 

 inches ; girth, 28 \ inches ; weight, 62 Ib. ; colour, dark-brown on 



* Castlenau : P.L.S. N.S.W., iii, 1878, p. 382. 

 f Macleay : P.L.S. N.S.W., v, 1881, p. 558. 

 Lace"pede : Hist. Nat. Poiss., iii, 9, 1801. 



1 have made a short reference to this occurrence in my "Fishes of 

 Australia," 1906, p. 165. 



