FISH AND FISHERIES. 93 
modestum ; Orossorhinus barbatus, Wobbegong; OC. tentaculatus (at° 
Cape York), Heterodontus Philipi, Port Jackson Cestracion or shark ; 
Hi. galeatus; Acanthias blanwillei, A. megalops, Isistius braziliensis, 
Rhina squatina, Angel-fish or shark; Pristiophorus cirratus, Saw-fish 
shark, P. nudipinnis, Rhinobatus granulatus, blind or sand shark. 
In this list some of the species named have not been found at Port 
Jackson. They are representative species, which are, as far as known, 
confined to peculiar localities. 
Some of Mr. Hill’s remarks on these fishes are of such interest that 
an account of our fisheries would not be complete without at least a 
portion of them. 
The Sea Shark. 
Of Carcharias gangeticus he says :—“ This is about the largest of the 
sea sharks, and, like all sharks, ravenous to a degree at times. It 
arrives in this harbour about February, but at times later, in March, 
just according to the migrations of the sea-mullet, of which notice has 
been already taken. With these fishes it is found, and no doubt preys 
on them to an enormous degree. 
“ At this season—February, March, and April—it goes up the har- 
bours and rivers, and may occasionally be caught with a very stout line 
and hook or harpoon. It is of great strength, and would pull a large 
boat about with ease. The sea shark gorges and gets rid of a great 
quantity of food, and one was caught in this harbour containing in its 
stomach (as far as my memory serves) the hind leg of a horse, from the 
hock downwards, with a shoe on the foot, eight or nine unsound mutton 
hams tied up in a gunny-bag, two ship’s scrapers, and some sundries ; 
“notwithstanding all these he was ready to take more, and was cap- 
tured. 
“These cartilaginous fishes are very troublesome to fishermen outside 
the Heads, and frequently cause the men to leave the ground. It is 
astonishing to find how readily they will bite off the schnapper from the 
hook as you are hauling it in, leaving the head or perhaps the head and 
shoulders alone. Certain it is there are plenty of schnappers about 
them, and during the time you are fast to a shark the others would be 
diligent with their lines, as the fishes bite well at that time. I only 
wonder that sea-bathers are not more frequently bitten about February 
and March, as then they are very voracious and numerous. At the 
Figtree Baths a huge dog was purposely drowned. A sea shark coming 
by that way seized the dog by the middle, gave him a shake or two, 
and then swallowed him, and was afterwards swimming about with the 
appendage of a large stone hanging to his mouth. This did not appear 
to give him much trouble, for he was looking about for more food, and 
stood a few rattles on the head with an oar before he would retire to 
deeper water. 
“The liver occupies a great space inside the shark, and is of value, 
for it yields a considerable quantity of oil which may be either rolled 
or boiled out; the oil from the former method is said to be of the 
better colour and gives less trouble. Tho other part of the shark is 
turned to no advantage generally, but the fins and tail, when cured and 
