FISH AND FISHERIES, 53 
In the next few divisions of the Acanthopterygians there is only one 
family of interest to the Colony, so this need alone be referred to. 
SCLANIDEA. 
Soft dorsal more developed than spinous or anal. No filaments, 
head with well developed muciferous canals ; scales ctenoid. Lateral 
line well developed and frequently extending over the caudal fin. Eye 
lateral, of moderate size, Teeth in villiform bands, no molars or 
incisors, canines sometimes present, palate toothless, preoperculum 
unarmed. Stomach cecal. Air-bladder often with numerouns append- 
ages. Coast fishes near rivers or exclusively inhabiting them, tropical or 
sub-tropical, with very wide specific range, sometimes very large ; all 
edible. Dr. Giinther says they are rare in Australia, but this is hardly 
correct. Two of our largest market fishes belong to the family, the 
“ Jew-fish” and the “ Teraglin.” 
The Jew-fish. 
(Plate XVI.) 
This fish is of the genus Sciena, which has either an overlapping 
upper jaw or both jaws equal. Interorbital space moderately broad and 
slightly convex. Outer series of teeth larger than the rest, but no 
canines, no barbels. Some fifty species are known, among which is the 
“ Meagre” or “ Maigre,” attaining the length of 6 feet. It has been 
found in European seas, at the Cape, and in South Australia—at least 
this is Dr. Giinther’s opinion, who unites our Sciena antarctica (Castel- 
nau) with the Meagre (S. aguila). Count Castelnau, however, points out 
the difference. He says on comparing the fish with the descriptions of 
Cuvier and Giinther, he even doubts if it belong to the same genus. 
The maxillary does not reach the eye, and the eye is proportionately 
smaller, The colour also different; the back is blue, changing to green, 
the sides and lower parts of a dirty white, rather silvery, dorsal, anal, 
and ventral fins reddish, pectorals whitish, with their extremities dark ; 
some sinuosities or notches at the angle-of the pre-operculum. 
‘The jew-fish is a fish that attains a great size, even to 5 feet in length, and 
_ always finds a ready sale in the market. It is said to be very frequently‘ cooked | 
by fishmongers and others and sold as ‘‘fried schnapper.” It is found at almost 
all seasons, but most abundantly in summer. It is a deep-sea fish and caught only 
by the hook, though young specimens may be occasionally taken in the net inshore. 
Of its history and habits nothing further is known. It is found in Victoria, but 
not in abundance. It is the ‘‘king-fish” of the Melbourne market. It has been 
more than once asserted that this fish is identical with Sciena aquila, the well 
known and highly appreciated ‘‘maigre” of the Mediterranean, and Count 
Castelnau, though originally describing our jew-fish as a different species, has 
lately admitted having some doubt on the subject.—R.R.C. 
In alluding to the ordinary jew-fish, Mr. Edward 8. Hill says “that 
it attains an immense size, and is caught in our bays and harbours. 
Care must be taken in a description that I do not cause it either to be 
confounded ‘with the teraglin or the silver jew, as there is a wonderful 
difference in the value of these fishes in a gastronomic point of view, 
an ounce of the latter being preferable to a pound of the former. An 
old jew-fish, and what might be called a large one, will weigh 50 to 60 
