FISH AND FISHERIES. 75 
an unerring and powerful plunge into one of the fishes, and fixes it firmly 
to the rock or ground. Then the struggle commences ; the second spear 
is brought to bear, and in general accomplishes the work of death. 
“The gruper is often decoyed from its hiding place by oysters and 
shells broken, or crabs broken up and thrown out as berley; then the 
cunning and dexterity, added to which the patience of the black is 
admired. There is nothing to equal his agility when he boldly pursues 
from rock to rock the fugitive, perhaps with a broken or disabled spear, 
and at length dashing in with his already disabled shaft he will struggle 
hard and do his work effectually. 
“With hook and line along the rocks of our sea-coast these fishes are 
caught, but the bait should be crabs. It is usual to wrench legs and 
shell off the back, and cast them out for berley. The body is then 
secured on the hook with a piece of thread or flax and thrown out; if 
a gruper be at home, that is the surest way to entice him. 
“Boiled head or shoulder of a gruper is a perfect dish ; and I have 
learned from those who are not only capable of judging but giving an 
opinion also, that it more resembles the princely turbot than does any other 
of the fishes of the Colony.” 
The Pig-fish. 
Another species called the pig-fish, C. unimaculatus, Giinth. (Plate 
XXXII), is a much smaller fish, with the pre-operculum minutely 
serrated, and exceedingly strong anal spines. It is of a uniform red 
colour, with a deep black spot at the base of the sixth and eighth dorsal, 
and a small black spot on the fifth and ninth dorsal spines. 
The Rock Whiting. 
Odazx, “rock whitings,” have a compressed oblong body, with small 
scales, head naked, lateral line not interrupted, dorsal spines nine. We 
have only one species in Port Jackson, already referred to. 
The Stranger. 
Odax has @ conical snout with the edge of each jaw sharp and cutting 
without distinct teeth. The Port Jackson species named is about 14 
inches long, of a sky-blue colour, with a golden spot on each scale, or green 
with the belly white, and with transverse black spots on the back. 
Another species is called the “stranger” in Melbourne (0. richardsonii, 
Gunth.) and another in Tasmania, O. baleatus, Cuv. and Val. goes by the 
name of “kelp-fish.” A very small one in Port Jackson, of chocolate 
brown colour with reddish fins, is called O. brunneus (Macleay). 
III.—Ord. ANACANTHINI. 
Vertical and ventral fins without spinous rays ; ventrals jugular, 
thoracic or none. No pneumatic duct in air-bladder if present. 
GADIDZ, or COD-FISHES. 
The cod family, so largely and usefully represented in Europe and America, 
only exists in Australia in the form of two species of Lotellacallarias and. 
fuliginosa, known to the fishermen by then ames of ‘‘beardie” and ‘‘ling.” 
They are very rare, and generally of small size. Nothing is known of their edible 
qualities. —R.R.C. 
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