60 



them into a composition which they keep secret ; they then 

 hang and dry them, without removing the intestines. A 

 specimen preserv^ed in this way, now in my possession for 

 more than a year, is still in an excellent state of preser- 

 vation. 



The market for the fish captured by the Chinamen is 

 chiefly among the tin-miners of Thomas's Plains. 



It is most singular that this species, with the Blackfish 

 (Gadopsis marmoratus), should be identical with species 

 found abundantly in Victorian Rivers, and wholly absent in 

 all the southern waters of Tasmania. The Unio (U, more- 

 tonicns), and the Freshwater Lobster (AstacopsU Franh- 

 liniijj are also restricted to the rivers which discharge their 

 waters into Bass's Straits. The peculiar inhabitants of 

 northern rivers, therefore, are more Victorian than South 

 Tasmanian in character, which is remarkable when we 

 consider the present insular character of Tasmania. Mr. 

 Wallace's theory of the original distribution of ^ Island 

 Life ' receives ample confirmation from these and other 

 facts known to me in connection with the Flora and Fauna 

 of Tasmania. 



The Blackfish (Gadopsis marmoratus), whose singular 

 distribution has been commented upon, is found in nearly all 

 the rivers of Tasmania which flow into Bass's Straits. Their 

 original absence in some northern streams, such as ihe South 

 Esk, — which has recently been successfully stocked by Mr. 

 Harrison and other pisciculturists, — is somewhat puzzling; 

 but the total absence from all the other rivers and streams 

 of Tasmania where the conditions are identical, can only be 

 explained on the principles of geographical distribution as 

 illustrated by Darwin and AVallace. I believe if the Fauna 

 of Tasmania were specially studied by Mr. Wallace, that 

 many of the opinions advanced by him in his last great 

 work would receive ample and striking confirmation. 



The Blackfish somewhat resembles a small Ling in mark- 

 ings and general appearance. It is much esteemed as food, 

 and is a welcome fare to bushmen and settlers who are far 

 removed from the centres of population. The fish usually 

 are taken in considerable numbers by rod and line all the 

 year round, the hook baited often with the large white grub 

 (a species of moth obtained from the ' wattle ' or ' honey- 

 suckle,' (i.e., Acacia dealhata : Banhsiamarginata). A 

 good take can always be relied upon in most of the northern 

 streams, especially in the Ringarooma, where, it is stated 

 by Mr. John Brown, they have been known to reach a 



