FU ETHER ICHTHYOLOGICAL MISCELLANEA. 
127 
has for many years been introduced into waters which are outside the above natural 
range of the species. Thus it thrives in Lake George, Lake Bathurst, etc., New South 
Wales. It has been introduced into the southern Victorian rivers, and into Westerp 
Australia, apparently with varying degrees of success. 
Opinion that the fish is suffering depletion seems fairly unanimous. Up till th^e 
end of the last century there had been considerable over-fishing but the appointment 
of inspectors and various regulations have operated as some check to waste. One 
year, in the ’eighties or ’nineties, 330,000 lb. of Murray Cod were sent from the Mxuray 
River to the Melboiune Market. In 1900, “ it appeared probable that the total value 
of the fisheries within the South Australian portion of the Murray River may . . = 
be . . . from £25,000 to £30,000 per annum.” When the South Austrahan authorities 
held an enquiry in 1903, the result of which was printed in Sydney that year, a decline 
in the quantity of the fish had been demonstrated, and has apparently continued since. 
So far as the situation in Victoria is concerned, see Lewis in Barrett’s “ Save Australia,” 
1925, 123 et seq. 
The rate of growth, age, etc. is not scientifically recorded, but the maximum 
length and weight were given by Waite as six feet and 150 lbs. 
As regards spawning, there are a number of conflicting accounts. Ogilby states 
that “ the ova are deposited in the summer months, the statements of trustworthy 
observers varying between November and January even in the same district.” Tlie 
South Australian enquiries elicited the information that the cod spawn from September 
to November (and sometimes later) in the lower Murray River. 
Mr. H. K. Anderson, formerly Inland Fisheries Officer for New South Wales, 
accomplished the artificial propagation of Murray Cod. He found their eggs “ eyed ” 
in five days, hatched in 13 days, and the fish were ready for liberation 15 days later. 
He thought this development w'as retarded by cold. All the Trout Cod captured in 
October-November and handled by Mr. Anderson were spent fish. He handled many 
thousands of fish and found the Trout Cod full-roed at 8" and the Murray Cod were 
never seen full-roed under 15". He found that the number of ova carried by the fish 
varied considerably : 
I fish weighing 9 lbs. carried 83,000 eggs. 
1 fish weighing 9 lbs. carried 81,000 eggs. 
1 fish w'eighing 5 lbs, carried 245,000 eggs. 
I am unable to recognise more than one species of Murray Cod, though IMr. 
D. G. Stead (in a MS. report) says that the form known as the Trout Cod differs from 
the Murray Cod as follows; “ Specimens 8-9 oz. orl7|ins. in length from south- 
western New South Wales arc in roe, whereas the Murray Cod does not usually mature 
