FISH AND FISHERIES. 55 
rounded, distinctly denticulated ; pectorals pointed, with a large skinny 
flapattheaxil ; soft dorsal with a scaly sheath at base; thirty to thirty-two 
rays, anal one spinous, eight soft rays; length reaching 3 or. 4 feet. 
The Teraglin is also alarge and valuable fish, caught in the same way and at 
the same time as the jew-fish, but seldom reaching such a great size. The air- 
bladder of some of the same genus of fishes is of great value for isinglass, and 
forms a valuable article of export on the Indian ane Malan coasts, the merely 
dried bladder being worth equal to 3s. per Ib. In our species—the teraglin—the 
air-bladder is of great size and excellent quality, and treated in the same way, 
that is without any preparation or outlay except that of drying in the sun, would 
probably add from threepence to sixpence to the value of each fish caught.—R.R.C. 
The name Teraglin is stated by Mr. Hill to be an aboriginal one. 
The same author refers to a fish called the “ Silver Jew-fish,” which he 
considered from the form of the scales to be a different fish, Probably 
there was some mistake in the application of the native name, which 
it would seem Mr. Hill applied to the young of the true jew-fish, and 
his “Silver Jew” was the true Teraglin in its young stage. He adds 
that the “Silver Jew has all the appearance of one which would 
recommend itself ; and certainly no one has as yet been deceived who 
ventured on the mere hypothesis of judging by appearance.* It is 
splendid when fresh caught, and.also keeps pretty well if immediately 
cleaned after capture. They do not attain toa large size—3lbs. to 5lbs. 
weight. Silvery bright, and rapid swimmers, they love a good depth 
of water, and bite freely, now and then, at the ordinary bait. The 
tackle should be as fine as possible consistent with the strength of the 
fish, and the hooks well chosen. These fishes have much of the habit 
of their larger popular namesake, and frequently come in with the net. 
I doubt, however, whether the silver jew belongs either to the family or 
the genus of what is called or known as the jew-fish. 
“Tt will be interesting to have these three fishes described, and from 
their particularly identical habits, one would almost imagine that they 
belong to the same family. The aboriginals, in whose sagacity I place 
great faith in such matters, have coupled two of these fishes only— 
mittila and teraglin. The silver jew, in all probability, has received 
its popular name from its similarity of habit.” 
The Sword-fish. 
Of the family Xiphiide or sword-fish, which have the upper jaw 
produced into a long sword-like weapon. We have one species which 
is occasionally seen at Port Jackson (Histiophorus gladius), Brouss. On 
July 4, 1880, a specimen was stranded at Wollongong nearly 14 feet long. 
The sword-fish is very dangerous to the schnapper fishermen. Mr. 
* Mr. Oliver forwards me the following note on this subject :—‘‘I do not think 
that the ‘Teraglin’ can be the same species as that popularly known as the 
‘Silver Jew.’ Certainly the small silvery fish called ‘Jews’ caught in the Hunter 
River, Lake Macquarie, and the rivers and inlets of our coasts are not Teraglins. 
They may be, and probably are, the young of Scicena antarctica, but in my opinion 
they are not Otolithus. The teraglin is a delicious fish, and is caught generally in 
offings or near the Sydney Heads. The little jew is caught up rivers, never in 
offings, and is wretched eating. I admit, however, that I have not compared 
them according to the scientific description.” 
