93 



yet been made to make use of these fishes in Tasmania. 

 No doubt attention will in time be drawn to this valuable 

 source of wealth. At present there are no proper means 

 among us for their capture ; their migratory habits are 

 little understood ; and there are no establishments in our 

 midst for preserving them. It is not creditable to local 

 enterprise that this source of wealth should have remained 

 so long without an attempt being made to utilise it. 



It is unfortunate that our waters should not also contain 

 the Clupea harengiis, the Common Herring of European 

 waters. The successful introduction of various species of 

 SalmonklcB into our rivers from Great Britain gives hope 

 that the Herring may also be introduced. There are great 

 difficulties in the way, but they may in time yield before 

 improved means of transit j and it is not impossible that 

 we may yet see our southern waters the home of this, the 

 most useful of all food fishes. 



MuR^NiDiE. The Eel Family. 



There are four representatives of this family in Tasmanian 

 waters, but there are only two of them important as regards 

 the market supply ; viz. — 



The Common Eel AnguiUa Australis, Rich. 



The Conger Eel Conger vulgaris^ Cuv. 



The first of tliese is referred to under the heading 

 *' Freshwater Fishes." 



The Conger Eel is brought to market in considerable 

 quantities, and is largely exported. They are caught all 

 the year round, and are sold at a very low price. They 

 vary greatly in size, and weigh from 7 to 50 lbs. They are 

 chiefly taken by hook and line. 



PEGASIDiE, SyNGNATHID^, ScLERODERMI, GyMNODONTES. 



The fishes belonging to the above families number twenty- 

 seven species in Tasmanian waters, and include the Pipe 

 Fishes, Sea Dragon, Sea Horses, Leather Jackets, Globe 

 Fishes, Porcupine Fish, Sun Fishes. With the exception 

 of certain individuals of the Leather Jacket Family, there 

 are none of them of any marketable value, and need not 

 eno^ag-e our attention. The Leather Jackets are sinojular 

 fishes, with a single erectile, barbed or toothed, dorsal 

 spine, a coarse granular skin, and having wonderfully 

 strong jaws armed with sharp cutting teeth. Some of 

 them are said to be very good for the table when skinned ; 



