FISH AND FISHERIES. 85 
a blind sac, pyloric appendages numerous. Gill apparatus much deve- 
loped, the openings generally very wide. Air-bladder more or less 
simple. Dentition feeble.* 
This family is not numerous in species, but is the most numerous in 
individuals known. It comprises coast fishes spread all over tropical 
and temperate seas. It was at one time thought that we had no true 
Herrings, or if present not as numerously as the northern repre- 
sentatives of the family, or as useful. The Hon. W. Macleay has 
sufficiently disproved this, from whose essay on the subject} large use is 
made in the following remarks. 
Herrings are rarely seen in our markets, but this is due to the fact 
that the shoals do not as a rule enter our harbours, and to fish for them in 
the open sea requires appliances not at present in the possession of our 
fishermen. Our species are different from those of the northern hemi- 
sphere, but in excellence as food they are not inferior. 
Anchovies or Hngraulis have a compressed body with a very wide 
lateral mouth, and a projecting upper jaw. Scales large. We have two 
species, . antarcticus, Casteln. and #. nasutus, Casteln. The first- 
named species is by many erroneously believed to be identical or at most 
a variety of #. encrassicholus, of Europe. Count Castelnau states that it 
is very common in the Melbourne market at all seasons, and goes by the 
name of “ Whitebait.” Mr. Macleay says it is never seen in Sydney 
markets, or any species of Engraulis. He thinks that from its being 
common. at all seasons that it must be inferior to the real Anchovy at 
least in economic value, because it belongs to that class of fishes whose 
visits elsewhere aré periodic and in enormous quantities ; that as this 
anchovy does not occur in shoals, its fishery could never be of much 
value. He however also considers it not unlikely that the specimens 
may be young fish, and that the periodical ‘haunts of the large shoals 
have not yet been noticed. 
Chatoéssus.—Mouth transverse, inferior, narrow, without teeth, upper 
jaw overlapping the lower, abdomen serrated. Two species, C. erebi, 
C. richardsoni. These are fresh-water fishes which will be dealt with 
separately. C. erebi is sometimes caught on the coast, and is called 
“ Bony: Bream.” 
Brisbania.—Mouth wide, opening upwards, maxillary large, teeth 
small and numerous, last ray of dorsal elongate, abdomen not serrated. 
There is only one species of this fish, which is of a genus erected by 
Count Castelnau for one known as yet only in the Brisbane River. 
Clupea.—True Herrings. Mouth small, teeth minute or none, 
abdomen serrated, anal fin short. We have ten species if we include 
the true sprat (C. sprattus) which is said by Giinther to be found in 
* In 1878, the number of herrings brought into Yarmouth and Lowestoft 
(England), was 423 millions, of a value of £875,000. In France, in the same year, 
the value of the herring fishery was £400,000 ; In 1876, the value of the same 
fishery was £825,620. In Ireland, in the same year, it was £226,803. In Scotland 
it has been yearly increasing, and in 1876 reached 598,197 crans. 
+ On the Clupeide of Australia, Linn. Soc. N.S.W., vol. 4, p. 363. 
