FURTHER ICHTHYOLOGICAL MISCELLANEA. 
117 
The Pilchard {Sardinops neopilchardus) is the best-known and commonest of 
the Australian herrings, and the one most likely to be of commercial importance in the 
future. Huge shoals of these fishes migrate northwards along south-eastern Australian 
coasts each winter and they are practically identical with the true Sardine of commerce. 
As early as 1844, a tremendous influx of pilchards was noted from Tasmania, but it is 
possible that Sprats may have been included with them. Similarly, hundreds of tons 
of these fishes came to Simon’s Cove, Bruni Id., Tasmania in 1867. In New South 
Wales, their winter migrations were noticed over seventy years ago, and though they 
were observed annually from about June to September, but few found their way into 
the markets. 
Young ones, barely an inch long, were caught at Botany in November, 1895, 
but it w^as not until quite recently that the eggs were positively identified from off 
Sydney by Professor Dakin and his colleagues. Spawning took place in July, the eggs 
being abundant for three successive years in that month, though also found in May, 
July and August, after w'hich the young larvae cbsappeared. Thus from May to 
September is the time for catching Pilchards off the coast of New South Wales. They 
are sensitive to change of temperature, so may be earlier or later at times. Off Rich- 
mond Heads, New South Wales, vast shoals of pilchards were noticed in April 1928. 
Quantities of “ Clfupea^^ evidently this species, were noted off Botany and Bondi in 
August 1880, and at Manly in August, 1881. The pilchard is rai’ely seen inshore 
further north of the Tweed River district, but is still abundant in the late winter 
and early spring months off the Richmond Heads. In Queensland, it has been recorded 
from as far north as Hervey Bay by Ogilby. 
In Hobson s Bay, Victoria, a large shoal of pilchards was seen for the first time 
in August 1864, then the species was very abundant in August 1865, but in the same 
month next year, countless thousands w'^ere seen and could be dipped from the sea 
in baskets. Hundreds of tons were collected and ship masters reported having passed 
through shoals for miles. They were plentiful every year since then, but in 1871, 
they w^ere first seen on 16th November, were more abundant in the December and 
January following, though in less numbers than in previous years. 
Thousands of pilchards were noted off Yamba, Clarence River in May 1911. 
Probably owing to differences in temperature (the variations of which have yet to be 
correlated with the occurrence of fishes, whales, etc.), the occurrence of the pilchard 
in New Zealand waters differs in season from Australian records. As long ago as 1871, 
pilchards were observed to visit the east coast of Otago in February or March annually, 
migrating sow^Aw^ards. In about April, they appear in Queen Charlotte Sound, where 
they are prepared as Picton Herring, and they spawm about Christmas time. Odd 
specimens are found in the Hauraki Gulf in spring, but the pilchard is not known 
