80 NEW sOUTH WALES 
way, which was not successful.* The Government of New South Wales, 
acting on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Fisheries 
of New South Wales, lately imported a variety of nets, lines, and fishing 
implements of the latest and most improved kinds, from England, 
Norway, and America. Amongst these there were two trawl nets, a 
large Grimsby beam trawl and an otter trawl of 42 feet width of net. 
Early in January of this year (1880) a trial of the other trawl was made. 
The net was put overboard off Middle Head, and was raised in North 
Harbour, near Manly Beach. It was again lowered at the mouth of 
Middle Harbour and raised opposite Clontarf. On both occasions the 
net was quite full. Besides a number of rays and sharks, there were 
gurnards, gobies, and a large number of Pleuronectide. The flounder 
was got in considerable number, though rarely taken in the seine net, 
(Mr. Macleay thinks that of all European flatfish it nearest approaches 
is the “Brill,” Rhombus levis). Other rare flatfishes were found, 
including a new species of Synaptura and a new genus entitled Lophor- 
hombus cristatus. One very large sole and several smaller ones were 
obtained. So large a capture where such a small space was traversed by 
the trawl, and in not very deep water, shows what advantages may be 
expected if trawl-fishing becomes an industry in New South Wales. It 
was singular, Mr. Macleay remarks, that no species of Rhombosolea 
were found, though represented by many species in Victoria, Tasmania, 
and the south coasts generally. He predicts moreover that a better 
acquaintance with the deep-sea fauna, by the aid of the trawl net, will 
prove the existence in the deep-sea currents of species of Rhombosolea 
like the &. monopus (New Zealand), rivalling the European turbot in 
size and excellence. 
IV.—Ord. PHYSOSTOMI. 
All the fin-rays articulated, first dorsal and pectoral sometimes ossified. 
Ventrals, if present, abdominal, without spines ; air-bladder, if present, 
with a pneumatic duct (except in ScomprEsocipz). 
SILURIDA. 
No scales, sometimes osseous scutes, barbels always present ; maxil- 
lary bone rudimentary, almost always supporting a maxillary barbel. 
Margin of upper jaw formed by the inter-maxillaries. Suboperculum, 
absent. Air-bladder present, generally communicating with the organ 
of hearing by ossicles, an adipose fin, or none. 
There are several species of Siluride in these seas, the most common in Port 
Jackson being the ‘‘cat-fish” (Cnidoglanis megastoma, Richardson). Though an 
excellent fish it is very seldom eaten ; the prejudice existing against the whole 
family being almost universal among Europeans. It is frequently taken in the net 
on the muddy beaches of the harbour.—R.R.C. 
* The substance of these remarks is contained in a paper read before the Linnean 
Society of New South Wales, in January, 1882, and published in the 7th volume 
of the Proceedings, 
