81 



fish, averaging a quarter of a pound in weight, silvery, 

 with elongate snout and body. The sides are faintly marked 

 with yellowish bars, which become obsolete towards belly. 



There is undoubtedly one member of this family in Tas- 

 manian waters, although it is rarely seen in the market. It 

 is termed the " Kingfish " in Victoria, although it must not 

 be confounded with Thi/r.<ites Solandri (Cuv. & Val.), our 

 " Tasmanian Kingfish." The fish belonging to this family 

 is thought by Dr. Giinther to be the " Maigre" of Euro- 

 pean waters — Scicena aquilla. Other naturalists, however, 

 have considered the Australian species to be distinct from 

 the European one, and the late Count Castelnau has given 

 it the name of S. antartica. It is just possible that there 

 may be two species, but this is extremely doubtful. Dr. 

 Giinther states the members of this family prefer the neigh- 

 bourhood of the mouths of large rivers, into which tliey 

 freely enter, and he also attributes their scarcity in Australia 

 to the fewness of large rivers which enter the ocean. 



Trichiurid^. 



This is not a large family of fishes in Tasmanian waters, 

 but the individuals of one genus at least are so abundant, 

 and all the members are so valuable as food, that it may be 

 even reckoned on equality with the Trumpeter group in 

 importance as affecting the market supply. The family 

 comprises the following species ; viz. — 



1. Lepidojjus caudatus .... The Frost Fish. 



2. ThyrsHes atun The Barracouta. 



3. Thyrsites Solandri The Tasmanian Kingfish. 



The first of these, " The Frost Fish," is common from the 

 south of England to the south of New Zealand. A speci- 

 men was recently taken in the Derwent which measured 

 5 feet 6 inches long ; greatest depth of body behind 

 shoulder, 6 inches; least depth at tail peduncle, three- 

 fourths of an inch; thickness, not much more than an inch. 

 It is captured at odd times during the winter season, and 

 has been known to enter the Derwent as far as Sandy Bay. 

 It is esteemed as the most delicious of all the edible 

 Fishes in New Zealand, where it appears to be caught more 

 frequently. 



The next species, ^^ The Barracouta," is caught all round 

 the coast, especially at the mouth of the Derwent, in the 

 greatest abundance, during ten months of the year, (No- 

 vember to October). These fish prey upon the shoals of 



