FISH AND FISHERIES. 37 
II.—Fam. ACANTHOPTERYGII PERCIFOMES— 
‘ SQUAMIPINNES. 
Body compressed and elevated, covered with scales, either finely 
ctenoid or smooth. Lateral line continuous, but not extended over the 
caudal fin. Mouth in front of the snout, generally small, with lateral 
cleft ; teeth villiform or setiform, in bands without canines or incisors. 
Dorsal fin consisting of a spinous and soft portion of nearly equal 
development, anal with three or four spines, developed similarly to the 
soft dorsal, both many-rayed. Vertical fins more or less densely covered 
with small scales. Lower rays of pectoral branched, not enlarged, ven- 
trals thoracic with one spine and five soft rays. Stomach cecal. Eye 
lateral, of moderate size. 
The name of this family will give an easy clue to its identification. | 
It means scaly-finned. The soft and frequently the spiny portions of 
the dorsal and anal fins are so densely covered with scales that the boun- 
dary between where the fin begins and the body ends is quite obscured. 
The species are generally small, and distinguished for the extraordinary 
variety and beauty of their colours, including such well-known forms 
as the Chatodons, of which two are found in Port Jackson. 
It is said that all the family are carnivorous, and the “Sweep” 
is no exception. It can be caught with almost any bait. Mr. Oliver 
says, that he has caught thousands with a live or meat bait. But the 
odd thing in Sweep fishing is that in nine cases out of ten they are 
hooked foul. The neighbourhood of coral reefs abounds in forms of this 
beautiful group. 
The Sweep. 
(Plate VI.) 
This is one of a very numerous tropical family of fishes, remarkable for eccentricity 
of form and variety of marking, but the temperate coast of New South Wales can 
boast of only a few species, and of these one only, the ‘‘ sweep” ( Scorpis equipennis), 
_can claim recognition among our edible fishes. It is not much thought of, yet at 
times it is brought to market in considerable quantities, and finds consumers at 
fair prices. The schooling season is midsummer, and the spawn is probably 
deposited in the harbour, as the young sweeps are frequently caught in the seine. 
The air-bladder is said to be large in this fish, so that it may be found to be valu- 
able as an isinglass producer. It is seldom caught except in the seine, and is 
probably entirely a vegetable feeder.—R.R.C. 
The species thus referred to is described as having the family characters, 
with a moderate snout. Dorsal fin with nine or ten spines, anal with 
three, and the soft portions of both densely scaly. Jaws with an outer 
series of stronger teeth: teeth also on the vomer and palatine bones. 
Seven branchiostegals, air-bladder present, pyloric appendages very 
numerous. Lower margin of the preoperculum finely serrated. The 
dorsal and anal fins not falcate, the rays becoming shorter posteriorly. 
Colour uniform brownish black. 
