FISH AND FISHERIES. 51 
The White Trevally. 
This is another species, the “White Trevally,”* or Teuthis javus, 
Linn. The ground colour is dark with whitish spots, round on the back, 
confluent at the side, and forming large natural streaks on the belly— 
spots and streaks narrower than the interspaces, vertical fins without spots. 
a II.—Div. ACANTHOPTERYGIANS, 
Fam. BERYCIDA. 
Body short, with ctenoid scales, rarely absont. Eyes lateral, large 
(except Melamphies). Cleft of mouth lateral, oblique, jaws with viliform 
teeth, palate generally toothed. Opercular bones more or less armed. 
a a hace Head with large muciferous cavities covered with 
thin skin. 
Marine and generally deep-water fishes, frequenting warmer. temperatures, and 
having a wide range, some species being common to Madeira and Japan. This- 
family is most abundant in tropical seas, three genera only being represented in 
New South Wales waters—Trachichthys, Beryx, and Holocentrum. Of these one 
only merits notice—it is the well-known ‘‘nannygai,” Beryx affinis of Giinther. It 
is a deep-sea fish, caught only with hook and line, and rarely taken during the 
winter months. It seems generally to make its appearance soon after the com- 
mencement of the warm season, and to judge by the number sometimes taken at 
one time, probably comes in considerable shoals, but we have not been able to 
determine whether it is a migratory fish in. the true sense of the term, visiting 
these temperate seas in the summer and returning in winter to warmer latitudes, 
or whether its appearance is merely, as is the case with very many fishes, a move- 
ment only from deep water to the neighbourhood of the land. The same uncer- 
tainty exists as to its spawning season. It is seldom seen full-roed, and we have 
not found that the very young fish are ever seen in our harbours or on our coasts, 
so that it may be fairly inferred that the ‘‘nannygai” does not as a rule spawn in 
this vicinity. We have no evidence of its having been found south of Jervis Bay, 
and we know that it is unknown in Port Phillip, but to the north its range seems 
to be unlimited. As an edible fish it ranks high, indeed there are few better in 
the country. It cannot however be much depended upon for the market, owing 
to the irregularity of the supply, but this may proceed not so much from the 
scarcity of the fish as from the fact that the fishermen never specially seek it, and 
that it is only caught accidentally when fishing for schnapper. The ‘‘nannygai” 
when slightly corned and smoked is said to be a great delicacy.—R.R.C. 
The genus thus referred to has a very short and obtuse snout, pro- 
minent chin and large eye, viliform palatine and vomerine teeth; a 
strong spine at the scapulary and angle of preoperculum, rather small 
scales, abdomen serrated. Dorsal with from three to six spines, ventral 
with six soft rays. Four species known from New Zealand to Madeira. 
The Nannygai. 
(Plate XV.) 
Beryx afinis. Giinth, Catal. The “Nannygai.” Dorsal, seven 
spines and twelve rays, first highest, caudal very deeply forked, of four 
spines and twelve rays. Ventrals with one strong spine and seven 
rays, pectorals with thirteen rays. Colour, a most beautiful pink, with 
silver stripes on the body and edges of the opercula. Length, from one 
to two feet. Count Castelnau doubted if this Sydney fish was not 
* So called by Mr. Hill. 
