THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 187 
THE FISHERIES: Or NEW SOUTH WALES: PRE- 
SENT AND POTENTIAL. 
(Abstract of Presidential Address by David G. Stead.) 
' Tue present fisheries of New South Wales embrace within 
their scope: (1) Fishes, (2) Crustaceans, (3) Mollusks, and 
(4) Cetaceans (Whales and Dolphins) ; and to these should be 
added in the near future Sponges and ‘‘Seaweeds’’ 
Algae). 
New South Wales has a known fish fauna of not less aia 
about 550 species. Of these at least 250 are of a good edible 
character. As times goes on it may reasonably be expected 
that the already long list will receive many additions. 
During the last few years an average annual amount of not 
less than 10,000,000 to 12,000,000 pounds weight ‘of fresh 
fish has passed through the: Asi markets; while, in addition, 
a very large amount was disposed of without 
through any recognised market, 
being recorded. 
(Marine 
passing 
and consequently without 
As our ocean fisheries are hardly touched as yet, it is not 
likely that the species of fishes at present of greatest import- 
ance will still occupy that relative position in our future fish- 
eries. ut even without touching our ocean resources, our 
estuaries and harbours are not yielding more than a fraction 
of what they-are capable of. 
New South Wales is well supplied with edible Crustaceans, 
in the shape of marine Crayfishes or ‘‘Spring Lobsters’’ 
(Palinurus), the Freshwater Crayfish (As¢acopsis), not less 
than half-a-dozen species of Prawn of the genus Penaeus, a 
number of edible Crabs of several genera, as well as others. 
In the year 1907 nearly 85,000 Crayfishes and 187,000 quarts 
of Prawns passed through the recognised nenibiiis alone of 
New South Wales. 
The principal commercial Mollusk of New South Wales is, 
of course, the common oyster (Ostrea cucullata), which is 
extensively farmed in many of the estuaries along our coast. 
At the present time over 17 millions of oysters are taken an- 
nually off the oyster-beds of this State. The possibilities of 
this industry in New South \WWales are enormous. Other 
Mollusca also are of economic importance in New South 
_ Wales, 
Quite a number of species of Cetaceans roam our seas, 
and of these, the most important are the whales. Whaling. 
is carried out regularly at Eden, Twofold Bay (on our South 
Coast), and here an important industry has been built up. 
A small Dolphin fishery is also pursued here at present, and: 
this could be increased with great advantage. The objec- 
