92 



1. Blue Groper Cossyphus Gouldii, Rich. 



2. Parrot Fish Lahrichthys hothin/ocosmun. 



Rich. 



3. Purple Parrot Fish . . Lahrichthys fucicola, Rich. 



4. Banded Parrot Fish . . Lahrichthys laticlaviusj Rich. 



5. The Ground Mullet or 



Kelp Fish Odax halteatus, Cuv. & Yal. 



6. The Stranger (klax Michardsoni, Giinth. 



The first and last of these seem to be the only members 

 of the family that are held in any degree of favour as food. 

 Fishermen however state that, although not in favour, they 

 are all good for food. It is stated that the Blue Groper, 

 though little appreciated, is exceedingly good. In the 

 Report of the Royal Commission on Fisheries of New 

 South Wales, it is recorded that the head of this fish makes 

 the most delicious dish one can well conceive. The Blue 

 Groper is uniformly dark purplish ; the upper profile of 

 head bent downwards in a regular curve ; caudal fin 

 truncated ; four anterior canine teeth in each of the jaws, 

 sometimes reaching a length of from thirty-nine to forty-two 

 inches. The Stranger is caught occasionally in the upper 

 waters of the estuaries of the Derwent ; is in fair esteem 

 for the market, — though, as its name implies, it is only 

 obtained occasionally. It is of a curiously elongate shape, 

 like the Pike, snout produced, body and fins marbled, and 

 streaked with faint yellow. The other members of the 

 family are noted for the beauty of their colours. They 

 invariably feed upon shell-fish, their jaws being well 

 armed for tliis purpose. The most of them have very thick 

 lips and strong canine teeth. The colours in some of the 

 species vary considerably; and it is possible that this feature 

 may have led classifiers astray in some cases. 



Clupeid^e. The Herring Family. 



Of this important family of fishes there are only three 

 species known to exist in Tasmanian waters ; viz. — 



The Anchovy EngrauUs encrasicholus, var. 



Antipodum^ L. 



The Sprat Clupea sprattus, L. 



The Pilchard Clupea, sac/ax, Jenyns. 



. The two former exist in our waters in vast shoals, and 

 form tho prey of the Barracouta, Mackerel, and other 

 fishes. Tliey sometimes ascend into the upper waters of the 

 estuaries of the Derwent and Tanmr ; and occasionally they 

 have been known to have stranded themselves in millions 

 while pursued by their natural enemies. No attempt has 



