114 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



(Eiipeneus). Both are delicate and delicious eating, but the 

 supply, especially of the red mullet, is very limited. I notice a 

 few small " blennie " or Australian rock ling ( Genypierus aus- 

 tralis), with long mottled body and curious tadpole-like tail. The 

 flesh is fairly good. These come from Geelong, but are more 

 abundant off the coast in winter time, sometimes reaching 3 ft. in 

 length, and are supposed to construct singular nests for the pre- 

 servation of their eggs. 



Chinamen, having cleaned their fish at the water-trough, are sub- 

 dividing them in the limited floor space available, and drawing lots 

 by means of small pieces of sticks. Of course the John who drew 

 the shortest stick says, " No savee." Another Celestial remarks 

 that 15s. for garfish is " too muchee." I agree with him. Garfish 

 {Heinirhamphus) ought to be plentiful in Corio Bay and Western 

 Port, as well as the Lakes, where their long, delicate, semi-trans- 

 parent bodies are taken with the seine. There are two varieties 

 of garfish, the sea {H. intennediiis), and the river or lake {H. 

 ■melanohois). The latter, for truly delicious flavour, is undoubtedly 

 the better, especially if it be towards the end of summer, when 

 they come in in immense shoals to deposit their spawn in the 

 harbours. 



Here are a few schnapper {Pagrus unkolor), caught by hook at 

 Queenscliff". But the bulk come by rail from South Australia, 

 chiefly from Kangaroo Island, where they are secured in deep 

 water oft rocks feeding on various mollusca. They are a regular 

 supply, and, notwithstanding the long journey, a little ice in the 

 basket causes their bright, pink flesh and scales to retain their 

 freshness. 



The kingfish {Serbia lalandit), like the schnapper, is carni- 

 vorous, and an exceedingly voracious creature. They have been 

 observed out in the surf at the Lakes' Entrance waiting for shoals 

 of unsuspecting mullet returning after spawning in May. These 

 the kingfish pursue and destroy in vast numbers. The kingfish is 

 very good food. I learn of a fisher who took at one haul of the 

 seine 75, and realized for them 5s. to 15s. each. 



A few salmon trout are noted among the consignments of 

 mullet, which they somewhat resemble, but may be readily recog- 

 nized by their beautiful chestnut-marked sides. The trout is 

 abundant, especially during the summer months, when they 

 appear in great shoals. Wiien full-grown they are a goodly-sized 

 fish, about 2 ft. in length, and erroneously believed by some 

 persons to be the veritable salmon, instead of the salmon arripis 

 ( Arripis solar tniUaceus). They are an active fish, and when in 

 pursuit of their prey (small fry) take prodigious leaps out of the 

 water. Their flesh is exceedingly palatable. However, I do not 

 intentionally wish to scare members, but, according to Professor 

 M'Coy, nearly all the fish-poisoning cases in Victoria are referable 



