FISH AND FISHERIES. 83 
It will not be necessary to delay over the next eight families of fishes 
any more than to state that they include the immense groups of 
Cyprinide, Carps, which is not represented ‘in Australia, though the 
Crucian Carp, Carassius carassius has been introduced into very many 
of our rivers and ponds. There are noneof the Family of Cypinodonte: 
in Australia though represented by so many genera in Africa, Asia, 
America, and Southern Europe. . 
SCOMBRESOCIDA. 
Body covered with scales, with a keeled series on each side of the 
belly. Margin of the upper jaw formed bythe inter-maxillaries 
mesially and by the maxillaries, and by the inter-maxillaries laterally. 
Lower pharyngeals united into a single bone, dorsal fin opposite the 
anal and near the tail. Stomach not distinct from the intestine, which 
is quite straight, without appendages. 
Fishes of this family are generally distinguished by some peculiarity 
in the jaws. In Belone both jaws are produced into a long slender 
beak, no finlets. In Scombresox the jaws are the same, but there are a 
number of finlets between the dorsal, anal, and caudal. 
In Hemirhamphus the lower jaw only is prolonged into'a long slender 
beak. In Arrhamphus the upper jaw forms a triangular more or less 
convex plate, and the lower jaw is not prolonged. In Hxocetus the jaws 
are shortand the pectorals converted into long organs of flying. All but 
Arrhamphus are found on the coasts of N. 8. Wales, and are excellent 
table fishes. 
The Long Tom. 
(Plate XXXVL) 
Belone ferox is the “ Long Tom” of the Sydney fishermen, a “ Garfish” 
which is only taken in the net. They have teeth widely set apart 
in their long jaws, and they skim over the surface of the water seizing 
the small prey as birds do with the beak, and which without the 
teeth they would be unable to hold. They can only swallow small fish, 
and swim with an undulatory. motion of the body. Dr. Giinther says 
that shoals of them appear upon the coast with mackerel. In conse- 
quence of their bones being of a green colour an opinion exists that they 
are poisonous. There are one or two doubtful cases of fish-poisoning on 
record, said to have arisen from eating the bones. 
Of the ‘‘garfishes” we have four species known to be found onour coasts. One, 
Hemirhamphus regularis, is the favourite breakfast fish of the citizens of Sydney. 
Hemirhamphus melanochir, or ‘‘ river garfish,” is a still better fish, but has become 
very scarce. Hemirhamphus argenteus, the common Brisbane species, but rare in 
Sydney, and Hemirhamphus commersoni, also rare in Sydney, but abundant in the 
far north, This last is the largest of the genus, but scarcely equal in quality to 
the others. The ordinary Sydney garfish (H. regularis) comes in from the sea in 
the latter end of summer, to deposit its spawn in suitable spots in the harbour. 
It is then in the finest condition, and makes its appearance in successive shoals, 
some of them of enormous size. During the latter end of February of this year the 
shoals were so large that several boat-loads were taken in one hau! of the seine, 
and the fish on the spot could be purchased for sixpence a bushel.—R.R.C. 
