FISH AND FISHERIES. 39 
The Black-fish. 
(Plate VIL) 
The first division includes our Black-fish Girella tricuspidata. This 
genus has scaly cheeks but naked opercles. Dorsal spines received into 
a rather indistinct groove. Scales moderate. Six branchiostegals. 
Pyloric appendages numerous, air-bladder divided into two posterior 
horns. We have two species in Port Jackson, G. tricuspidata and 
G. simplex, the main distinction between which is that one has tricuspid 
incisor teeth and the other has smooth cutting edges with a short 
series of teeth on the front of the palatine bones. But intermediate 
forms arefound. The black-fish in the market is usually @. tricuspidata, 
but itis quite as common to see G. simplex sold as black-fish. In certain 
seasons they may be caught in abundance in shallow water with the 
line, the only bait being a green confervoid weed obtained on wood 
under sea-water. <A figure of G. tricuspidata, Richardson, is given at 
Plate IV. 
Another poor table fish of this genus is called the “Drummer.” It is 
G. elevata, of Macleay. The colour is a uniform brown and the scales 
are larger. The tricuspid teeth have the middle cusp large and rounded 
with a few conical teeth on the intermaxillary bone behind. Tail large 
and the pectoral fins about as large as the head. It is a poor table fish 
and is caught rarely. Besides the above there are four other species, 
one of which isa deep blue colour, G. cyanea, Macleay. Of the. second 
group, distinguished by the undivided pectoral rays, we have two species, 
Haplodactylus lophodon, Giinth. (brown, with a black spot behind, and 
caudal and anal fins variegated with lighter colour), and H. obscurus, 
Castelnau, a rare fish of nearly black colour. 
The fourth group includes all our Schnappers and Breams, and from 
their interset and utility will require a lengthened notice. 
The genus Pagrus or as we term it in the vernacular “ Schnapper,” a 
word of Dutch origin, is distinquished by an oblong compressed body, 
with scales of moderate size, Several pairs of strong canine-like teeth in 
both jaws: molars arranged in two series. Cheeks with scales. The 
spines of the dorsal fin eleven or twelve in number, though sometimes 
elongate, and can be received in a groove, anal spines three. 
Thirteen species of ‘this genus are known, chiefly distributed in 
the northern parts of the temperate zone, and more scantily represented 
in the tropics. Several species occur in the Mediterranean and the 
neighbouring parts of the Atlantic. One (P. argyrops) is well known 
on the coasts of the United States under the names of “Scup,” “Porgy,” 
or “Misheup.” It is one of the most important of food fishes, growing 
to a length of 18 inches and a weight of 4 lbs, 
The Schnapper, or Snapper. 
(Plate VIIL) 
The schnapper (Pagrus unicolor, Cuv. & Val.) is the most valuable of Australian 
fishes,—not for its superior excellence, for we have many more delicious, but for 
the abundant and regular supply which it affords of a very nutritious and whole- 
some description of food. It is found on all parts of the Australian coast, but 
most abundantly on that of New South Wales. It is a deep-water fish, found 
