FISH AND FISHERIES. 41 
fish and its mode of capture, by Mr. E. 8. Hill * :—“ Although by com- 
parison some would imagine that there was more than one of the same 
genus along our coast, this, however, is not the case; the mere 
difference of shade in their colour, or lanky or chubby appearance, in 
all probability is caused by the abundance or scarcity on their feeding- 
grounds. The schnapper is migratory, and both herbivorous and car- 
nivorous. 
“ The usual grounds fished in the vicinity of the Heads of Port Jackson 
are numerous, and for exaniple may be named South Reef, North 
Head, Blue-fish, Colours, Pine-tree, Tumble-down, and Mud Island, and 
the wide or Maori ground in deep water, all of which places are known 
to fishermen by bearing of land-marks. 
“The usual method of estimating quantity for sale by the fisherman is, 
as the schnapper or count-fish, the school-fish, and squire, among which, 
from its metallic appearance, is the copper-head or copper-colour, and the 
red bream. Juveniles rank the smallest of the fry, not over an inch or 
two in length, as the ‘cock-schnapper.’ The fact, however, is now 
generally admitted that all these are one and the same genus, merely in 
different stages of growth. 
~ “The ordinary schnapper, or count fish, implies that all of a certain 
size are to count as twelve to the dozen,} the shoal or school-fish, eighteen 
or twenty-four to the dozen ; and the squire, thirty_or thirty-six to the 
dozen—the latter just according to their size, the red bream at per 
bushel. With some exceptions, these are usually caught in the vicinity 
of reefs or rocks, by anchoring your boat according to the turn of tide, 
so that your line will trend to or along the rocks. Occasionally, when 
migratory, they are caught further off in deep water, but when in large 
shoals, wide off and on the top of the water, which is termed schooling, 
they will rarely take the bait. 
“ Apart from these, however, the largest of the genus is more frequently 
caught off points within our harbours after nightfall, and at certain 
time of tide—young flood at some, ebb at others. A fine old fish, 
monarch of his ground, with a figure-head as bold and defined in its 
outline as that on the North Head of this port, cunning and fastidious 
to a degree, a regular epicure—he must be tempted with choice morsels 
before the well-chosen bit which conceals the hook will engage his 
attention. And you must bear in mind at the same time that (as old 
Charley Reynolds used to describe him) he is only a oncer, implying 
that if he once fairly took the bait, and you pricked or missed him in 
the strike, it was good-byedor that time; but fairly hook him with 
strong tackle your work and anxiety for the time it lasts will be some- 
what intense. The tugging, jerking motion of the schnapper is unmis- 
takeable, and when he gets his shoulder to the line he goes off with a 
rapidity that makes the cord whistle again, either through your fingers 
or over the boat’s gunwale ; a steady and continuous strain, no stray 
line, together with some skill, enables you to safely land him, at which 
time you can realize that your patience, toil, and anxiety, are rewarded 
with a fish from twenty to twenty-five pounds weight, fit to embellish a 
noble banquet. 
* Fishes of and Fishing in N. 8. Wales. Sydney Mail, 1874. 
+ Count fish are usually 6 Ibs. each, so that a dozen equals 72 lbs. 
F 
