64 NEW SOUTH WALES 
“T suppose this was from the overpowering numbers. There does not 
appear to be so many here on this coast, or in its harbours and bays, but 
they are numerous and migrate the same as they do on the coast of 
England ; here, however, they are better disseminated, and do not move 
in column when they depart. At some seasons they are more plentiful 
than at others, like other fishes, and this well applies to Australia. 
“In the whole of this family of fishes care should be taken when they 
are eaten. J recollect many times catching mackerel, and those for use 
T had their heads cut off immediately, and the body inverted in a bucket 
of water to bleed well, and no ill effects ever arose from eating them. 
At another time we were out for the night towards Manly Cove, and an 
immense quantity of mackerel were caught. The moon partly shone on 
them, and which produced a chemical change in their composition. Not 
only was the party in charge of the vessel made sick by eating them, 
but to whomsoever he presented them ashore they were made violently 
sick after partaking of them, although the man was cautioned about 
their then condition through the moon. 
“The king-fish has also been the means, through this agency, of 
causing violent pains in the head, the face purple, and nausea. of the 
stomach, and many instances of sickness and pains can be recorded, yet 
the people will not be sufficiently careful—they chance it. 
“These fishes are excellent when fresh caught, but they will not stand 
long either the sun or the moon. They become flaccid and dangerous as 
food, and even as bait they are soft. “When perfectly fresh they require 
a little more cooking than is usual with other fishes, and at the same 
time care should be taken that they are quite clean. It was thought at 
one time that the danger lay in the back-bone—it was consequently 
removed ; others again thought it was that they were not divested at 
once of their entrails. All these experiments have been tried without 
effect. Of the fishes Scombride (which comprise those fishes just named, 
and also the bonito and the albicore, often caught at sea), decomposition, 
together with a chemical change, sets in at once, by the agency or 
through the influence of the moon, after which it is dangerous to eat 
them.” 
The Bonito. 
The bonito here referred to (Thynnus pelamys) is occasionally seen 
off our coasts, and also the king-fish of the West Indies Elacate nigra. 
We may also include the Remora or sucking-fish, in which the spinous 
dorsal fin is modified into an adhesive disk, occupying the upper side of 
the head and neck. It fastens on the shark and like the pilot-fish 
(Naucrates ductor) accompanies this predaceous fish in its rambles. 
They are both occasionally seen in Port Jackson. 
VIII. Fam. TRACHINIDE. 
Body elongate, low, naked, or scaly; teeth, small, conical ; one or two 
dorsal fins, the spinous portion shorter and much less developed than the 
soft ; anal, spinous and soft portions alike, no finlets ; ventrals with one 
spine and five rays; ten or more abdominal and more than fourteen 
caudal vertebree. 
