much more highly prized for the table were it not that they 

 are repulsive-looking and are so common. 



As regards appearance, the following three members of 

 the family present a wonderful contrast to the last ; viz. — 



The Butterfly Gurnard ( Lepidotrigla vanessa). Rich. 

 The Flying Gurnard (Trigla i^olyommata), Rich. 

 The Kumu Gurnard (Trigla Kumu), Less. & Gaim. 



At times during the winter season these most beautifully 

 coloured fishes, with their gaudily painted pectoral wings, 

 may be seen around our wharves in small schools, dashing, 

 or rather flying through the water, with sudden bounds 

 after their prey. The pectoral fin is a most beautiful 

 object, measuring, expanded, in some individuals of the 

 Flying Gurnard, six inches long by six broad. The 

 under surface is most brilliantly coloured blue, orange, and 

 red, with pure white and blue margins. There are two 

 large conspicuous black patches near the base, which, 

 bordered with deep blue and white, form a most beautiful 

 object in this fish, with its body-scales of burnished golden- 

 yellow and silver. They are rarely captured, however, on 

 our coasts, and are therefore unimportant here from a 

 commercial point of view. It would appear that they are 

 caught more frequently off" the coasts of New Zealand. 

 Latterly, the family Trkjlidce has been divided into two, — 

 the Gurnet group, under the name Scorpcenid^ ; and the 

 Flathead and Flying Gurnard group, under the name 

 Cottidce. 



Thachinid^. 



This family is represented in Tasmanian waters by five 

 genera and six s-pecies. They include amongst them the 

 Cat Fishes, the Freshwater Flathead or Sandy, and the 

 much prized Whiting. Indeed, for commercial purposes, 

 the latter is the only member of the group which need 

 engage our attention. The Tasmanian Whiting ( Sillago 

 c'diata, Cuv. and Val.,) is a most valuable market fish. It 

 fetches a higher price in the market, for its size, than any 

 other fish. These fish are usually taken in seine-nets, 

 during the months of November, December, and January, in 

 the Derwent and along the East Coast. They also may be 

 taken with hook and line ; and a dozen or so are frequently 

 captured in this way at odd times in the upper waters about 

 Sandy Bay as late as July. They go in schools ; but they 

 are stated to have greatly fallen off in numbers during the 

 last year or two. The reason for this decrease has not yet 

 been satisfactorily determined. They are a delicious Httle 



