1 Jan., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 65 
Pisciculture, 
By D. O’CONNOR, 
Ix my notes on Pisciculture, which appeared in Part 4 of the Queensland 
Agricultural Journal, I stated—“There are other excellent fishes deserving 
of attention.” The chief of these is, undoubtedly, Lates calcarifer, known 
at Calcutta, where it is highly-estecmed, as the Cockup; in the Pioneer, at 
Mackay, as the Palmer; in various other Queensland rivers as Barramundi ; 
and in the Fitzroy as Barramundi or Giant Perch, this last name being con- 
ferred by Mr. De Vis.* - It was, I believe, first known in Queensland as the 
Palmer. It would'be sensible and convenient were it to be known in future 
by this name only ; a good deal of confusion would thus bé avoided. 
The Palmer may be justly regarded as the king of Australian fresh- 
water fishes; as.a food fish or for sport, itis unrivalled. Our figure, taken 
from a specimen in the Museum, came from Rockhampton. It measures 4 feet 
8 inches in length, 2 feet 8 inches in girth, and weighed over 50 Jb. An 
experienced angler from Mackay informed me that for gameness he considered 
it equal to a Scotch salmon for the first half-hour after it was hooked. Of no 
other Australian fish can this be said. As a table fish, those who are qualified 
from experience to offer an opinion prefer it to the Murray cod. No attempt, 
that I am aware of, has ever been made to transfer this noble fish to any new 
habitat. We have running through Brisbane one of the finest rivers in 
Australia. Most of it is.destitute of fish, excepting mullet, bony bream, and 
cat-fish ; our laws prohibit the netting of the first, and the others are commonly 
regarded as worthless. Were the Palmer established in the Brisbane, a high- 
class fish on our tables need no longer be a curiosity. Palmer-fishing in the 
Brisbane would attract anglers from all directions, and those who go hence to 
Tasmania and New Zealand for fishing might do better by stopping at home. 
The distance from Brisbane to Rockhampton is not very great; we have fre- 
quent steam communication, and as an alternative route a railway nearly the 
whole way. The acclimatisation of the Palmer in the Brisbane River should 
not be regarded as impossible. 
Es ete Sere Oe Ea SL See es ak ee 
*Qstioglossum Leichhardti, of the Upper Dawson, is the true Barramundi, 
