IV THE NORTH AND WEST COAST 107 



into brackish water at the mouths of the rivers 

 to spawn. 



The Black-fish {Gadopsis marmoratus) (Fig. 29), 

 is still fairly abundant in certain localities along 

 the north coast of Tasmania, and also in the 

 rivers of Australia which flow into Bass's Straits. 

 Elsewhere it is not found at all, nor has it any 

 closely related species, though it is held to be 

 remotely connected with the Blennies. It is a 

 sluggish fish frequenting the deep pools in cloudy 

 streams ; the back and sides are of a deep black 

 colour marbled with grey, the belly being lighter 

 in colour, while the jaws are furnished with 

 barbels. It may grow to a very large size, scaling 

 as much as seven or eight pounds. 



The Freshwater Flathead of Tasmania belongs 

 to the genus Aphritis, which has other repre- 

 sentatives in Victoria and in Patagonia, so that 

 this fish agrees with all the other freshwater fish 

 in Tasmania in being confined to the temperate 

 southern hemisphere. It does not grow to any 

 size ; the head is very broad and depressed, and 

 the colour is mottled-grey or brown. Both it 

 and the Black-fish are the most delicious eating, 

 the Black-fish especially being one of the finest 

 freshwater fish in this respect. 



I spent some days on the north-east coast, at 

 a little place called Bridport some twelve miles 

 or so from Scotsdale, where an old Scotch settler 

 and his wife put me up at their farm-house. 

 The house is situated just behind the sand dunes 



