JOHNSTON, F.L.S. 



41 



The following are additional particulars regarding the 

 average quantity of fish exported each year, which hitherto 

 have been despatched almost wholly to Victoria: — 



Doz. 



Weight. 



Average Price. 



Trumpeter (Latris hecateiaj... 

 Perch ( Chilodactylus macrop- 



teriift) 



Trevally ( Neptonerrms brania)... 

 Barracouta (Thyrsites atun )..... 

 Kingfish (Thry sites Solandri)... 

 Conger Eel (Ganger vulgaris)... 

 C ray fish ( Pa linurus Edioa rdsii) 



66 



123 



52 



1132 



1056 



44 



923 



lbs. 



3 to 60 



2 to 7 



ltol4 



9 to 10 



12 to 14 



7 to 50 

 avg. 4 



Is. per lb. 



6s. to 7s. per doz. 

 8s. to 12s. per doz. 



3s. per doz. 



3s. per doz. 



13 d. per lb. 



5s. per score. 



Total per year 13396 



It is very difficult to estimate the value of fish sales, as no 

 systematic register has been kept for the whole colony. It 

 is probable, since the decline of the Oyster fishery, .that the 

 yearly sales do not exceed ,£10,000 per annum. 



The value of boats and equipment at present engaged in 

 the fishing industry of Tasmania may be roughly estimated 

 at about £7,700. This does not embrace the ships employed 

 in the Whale fisheries. The latter industry has declined 

 considerably during the last decade, as shown by the following 

 summary : — 



Average per year, First 

 Quinquennium. 



Average per year, Second 

 Quinquennium. 



Ships 



Tonnage 



Men 



Value of Oil 



16 



4,164 



390 



£31,281 



11 



3,055 



312 



.£19,223 



The reason of this falling off is stated to be chiefly owing 

 to the decline in price arising from the introduction of 

 minerals oils. Excessive fishing and consequent scarcity of 

 oil is also referred to as a cause of decline. 

 Fishing Grounds. 

 Generally, the Fishing Grounds may be divided into three 

 classes :-— 1. The Home Grounds 2. The Middle Grounds. 

 3. The Outer, or Open-sea Grounds. 



1. The Home Grounds, near shore, or in the upper shallows 

 of the estuaries of theDerwent andTamar. — Thefishing 

 grounds at Port Sorell, Bridport, and George's Bay 

 may be included with this division. The fish captured 

 in these situations consist chiefly of Flounders, Mullet, 

 Garfish, Flathead. Crayfish, Prawns, and Oysters are 

 also taken in the Home Grounds. 



