54 NEW SOUTH WALES 
pounds; the scales are very large, the teeth formidable, flesh coarse, and 
sometimes filled with parasites in the form of worms. This fish is not 
looked upon with any degree of regard, and is rarely sought after, 
except for an exhibition of his great strength, and which in my estima- 
tion is about the only redeeming quality he has. A true carnivora, 
formidable to shoals of smaller fishes on which he attends for his meals, 
making havoc among them as occasion and his good appetite may require, 
these adult fishes exhibit a good deal of cunning, and prefer turbid 
waters for their depredations ; they will go high up rivers, even into 
fresh water, and make an astonishing commotion among the shallows, 
The half-grown ones frequently hunt in numbers like a pack of wolves, . 
or our own. native dogs bailing up an old man kangaroo in a waterhole. 
I recollect on one occasion, in the basin at Broken Bay, when some half 
dozen of us were on a week’s fishing excursion, armed cap-a-pie with 
boats, nets, lines, spears, and all the necessary paraphernalia for the 
venture, and anchored a short distance only from the entrance. At the 
dawn of day, and young flood-tide, we saw a terrible commotion among 
the smaller fishes ; the net-boat was immediately equipped, and we at 
once pushed off for the entrance or channel, which leads into the basin. 
The tide, which had risen about a foot on the flats inside, afforded 
shelter for the time for the smaller fishes, but as soon as the depth 
increased a few more inches, in went the pack of jew-fishes pell mell, 
which created a sensation among, and actually drove many of the fry 
high and dry ashore. Our net was speedily run out, and it was suffi- 
ciently long to cut off the retreat of four or five and twenty of the 
medium-size jews ; their little game was at an end, and after several 
desperate attempts to get out we succeeded in securing the lot, besides a 
large number of various: fishes which they had hemmed in. 
“The deep water of Middle Harbour, above the Spit, and along the 
rocks high up near the Echo Point, are favourite resorts for these huge 
fishes, and it requires good lines and hooks to resist the heavy drag they 
put on. 
“Sydney harbour isa great place, off the points, where the water is 
deep and the tide strong. Here they lie in wait for their prey, but after 
rain, when the water is muddy or discoloured, they sally out from these 
lurking-places in every direction. Early morning or nightfall is the 
favourite time for fishing for the jew-fish.” 
The “Teraglin” belongs to the genus Otolithus, of which about twenty 
species are known from the tropical and subtropical parts of the Atlantic 
and Indian Oceans. The air-bladder is of extraordinary form, with 
appendages above and below. Snout obtuse or somewhat pointed ; 
lower jaw longer. First dorsal with nine or ten feeble spines, canine 
teeth ; preoperculum denticulated ; scales moderate or small. 
The Teraglin. 
(Plate XVII.) 
O. otelodus, Giinth. Catal. (0. teraglin, Macleay), is a bluish 
silvery fish, lighter on the belly. All the fins of a dark tinge 
except the ventrals, which are white, with the space between the first 
and second rays black. Teeth acute, recurved; eye large, preoperculum 
