\J\*— nr»fc.r 
 
 SB H77 07T 
 
 A BRIEF REVIEW 
 
 NEW SOUTH WALES 
 
 Present and Potential 
 
 DAVID G. STEAD 
 
 Department oP Fisheries 
 New South wales 
 
LIBRARY 
 
 University of California. 
 
 RECEIVED BY EXCHANGE 
 
 Class 
 
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Department of Fisheries, New South Wales. 
 
 A BRIEF REVIEW 
 
 OP 
 
 THE FISHERIES 
 
 OF 
 
 NEW SOUTH WALES 
 
 PRESENT AND POTENTIAL. 
 
 ^ 
 
 By 
 
 DAVID Q. STEAD, 
 
 NATURALIST TO THE BOARD OF FISHERIES FOR NEW SOUTH WALES; 
 
 PRESIDENT OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES NATURALISTS' CLUB, 
 
 I908-9; PRESIDENT OF THE AQUARIUM SOCIETY OF NEW 
 
 SOUTH WALES; VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE WILD-LIFE 
 
 PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA", AUTHOR 
 
 OF "FISHES OF AUSTRALIA,' "EDIBLE FISHES 
 
 OF NEW SOUTH WALES, " " EGGS AND 
 
 BREEDING HABITS OF FISHES," 
 
 &C, &C. 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF 
 
 [With 17 Plates! 
 
 Published by Authority of 
 THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES, 
 
 k 
 
 <T 
 
 % 
 
 SYDNEY : WILLIAM APPLEGATE GULLICK. GOVERNMENT PRINTER. 
 1910. 
 
 54052 
 
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 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2007 with funding from 
 
 Microsoft Corporation 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/briefreviewoffisOOstearich 
 
Of 
 
 The Fisheries of New South Wales 
 Present and Potential* 
 
 BY 
 
 David G. Stead, 
 
 FOREWORD. 
 
 When one thinks of fisheries, he naturally conjures up 
 fishes ; as, although in certain restricted localities, it might 
 not apply, speaking generally, fishes are by far the most 
 important product of the sea; and there is no doubt in my 
 mind, that our economic fishes will always occupy at least 
 the same position of importance in relation to other branches 
 of our fisheries, as they do to-day. It may be at once rightly 
 assumed, however, that the value and importance of the 
 present fisheries of the State of New South Wales are practi- 
 cally as nothing compared to the vast possibilities which 
 the future holds. One would really expect this to be so in 
 any country where (apart from the freshwater) as in New 
 South Wales, practically only the resources of the estuaries 
 had been tapped; and even those but slightly. I mean by 
 that, that he would expect it even without the possession of 
 any specific knowledge as to the kinds and quantities of 
 fishes, &c, inhabiting our coastal ocean waters; and, judging 
 by analogy he would be quite justified in his expectations. 
 
 The present fisheries of New South Wales embrace within 
 their scope — (i) Fishes, (2) Crustaceans, (3) Mollusks, and 
 {4) Cetaceans (whales and dolphins) ; to these should be 
 added in the near future, Sponges and Seaweeds — or more 
 properly Marine Algae. Of the two branches here mentioned 
 as not yet exploited, our seaweeds, I think, may probably 
 take the more prominent position. 
 
 *Presidential address read before the New South Wales Naturalists' 
 Club under the authority of the Board of Fisheries for New South Wales, 
 on the oth August, 1909. 
 
 208294 
 
FISHES. 
 
 New South Wales has a known fish-fauna of not less than 
 550 species. Of these at least 250 are of a good, edible 
 character. By the term " edible " here, I mean — as ex- 
 plained by me in my " Edible Fishes of New South Wales " — 
 u all of those fishes which — while not being of a noxious or 
 unpleasant character (such as Toad-Fishes, Porcupine-Fishes, 
 &c.) — attain a marketable size, or else occur in sufficient 
 abundance to render them of use as adjuncts to our food 
 supply." It may be reasonably expected also that as time 
 goes on our already long list will receive many additions; 
 more particularly from the ranks of certain gregarious oceanic 
 or pelagic species which have thus far escaped observation 
 and record. However, we have no need to consider here any 
 possible additions. 
 
 During the last few years an average annual amount 
 of not less than 10,000,000 to 12,000,000 lb. of fresh fish 
 has passed through the fish markets, while, in addition, a 
 very large quantity (probably not less than 3,000,000 to 
 4,000,000 lb.) was disposed of without passing through any 
 recognised market, and consequently without being recorded. 
 The most important kinds of those at present marketed are 
 as follows : — Snapper, Black Bream, Blackfish, Whiting (Sand 
 and Trumpeter), Mullet (Sea, Flat-tail, and Sand), Jewfish, 
 Flathead, and Murray Cod.* More than nine- tenths of the 
 whole supply is obtained from the coastal estuaries and bays, 
 while the great ocean resources are practically untouched. 
 
 As I have pointed out elsewhere f it does not follow that 
 fishes which are now of the greatest importance, will still occupy- 
 that relative position in our future fisheries. Quite the reverse, 
 in fact, is the conclusion which a close study of our fishes 
 brings us to. There are many fishes which are not at present 
 
 * With better facilities for transport, the Murray Cod industry is 
 capable of enormous expansion. 
 
 t " Edible Fishes of New South Wales " (1908), p. 9. 
 
5 
 
 of any special importance in the fisheries of New South Wales 
 — fishes which, though present in our coastal waters in incal- 
 culable numbers, are not usually captured unless they make 
 their appearance in the more restricted waters of our harbors 
 and estuaries ; that is, in other words, unless they practically 
 " walk into the net." But, apart from these altogether, 
 those species at present of the greatest economic importance 
 in our fisheries, may be captured in quantities immensely 
 greater than those at present disposed of. 
 
 I take it that in any country the people (with few excep- 
 tions) first make the acquaintance of inshore (i.e., estuarine 
 and harbor) fishes; at least as a source of food supply. 
 This is governed largely by convenience; as, so long as the 
 fishes can be obtained in sufficiently large quantities at the 
 door — so to speak — there is no special incentive to go farther 
 afield. In this connection, inshore fishes would really include 
 as well, such oceanic forms as at times swarm close along 
 our shoreline and actually throw themselves within the very 
 limited scope of the so-called " hauling-nets " or short seines. 
 
 In New South Wales the domestic demand, as far as the 
 market demand* is concerned, is easily supplied with fishes 
 from the estuaries and bays. The actual portion of the New 
 South Wales coastline upon which netting is constantly 
 carried out is really astonishingly small. 
 
 At certain times of the year, much larger quantities of 
 fine food-fishes, such as the well-known and important Sea 
 Mullet, for instance, would be brought in to market; as, in 
 many cases, only the fringe of the vast shoals is touched or 
 drawn upon; but, owing to a want of proper distribution — 
 on a really great and far-reaching scale, I mean — the fisher- 
 man is practically obliged, in his own interests, to refrain 
 from sending what he might, for fear of creating a " glut." 
 
 * I purposely differentiate here between the market demand and 
 the actual, because a large proportion of our people really desire a 
 constant and regular fish supply most ardently, but because a com- 
 plete system of distribution has not yet been mastered, they have 
 practically or wholly to go without. 
 
(01 course, this could be carried to excess, and I do not 
 attempt to defend any improper methods of controlling the 
 output of our edible fishes.) 
 
 With the opening up of proper avenues of disposing of 
 fish, an enormous impetus would be at once given to produc- 
 tion (as represented by the fishermen) ; and if, coincidently 
 with these, large canning establishments were established — 
 and these would inevitably result — it would very soon be 
 found necessary, while it would be at once more convenient, 
 to go to the ocean waters with their inexhaustible supplies 
 of the fishes which are more especially eminently suitable 
 for preparation in canneries and " salteries," &c. I am 
 thinking here chiefly of such species as the Australian Pil- 
 chard, Sandy Sprat, Anchovy, Tailer (which is the American 
 Blue Fish), Samson Fish, Cowanyung, Kingfish, Trevally, 
 Mackerel, Horse Mackerel, Bonito, Little Tunny, Southern 
 Tunny, and the highly important Spanish Mackerel of the 
 genus Scomberomorus — fishes of large size, known to be of 
 great edible value in the world at present, but which we 
 simply " do not bother about." 
 
 In the development of fisheries — at least as far as the 
 fishes themselves are concerned, canneries and large salting 
 establishments are almost a necessary adjunct; because at 
 times much larger quantities of fishes are captured than can 
 possibly be disposed of in the fresh or frozen condition within 
 a reasonably short period. 
 
 That there is ample room for expansion in this direction 
 is fully demonstrated by a short review of our huge imports 
 of canned, salted, and otherwise preserved fish and fish- 
 products. The few attempts at the establishing of canneries 
 on this coast have been defeated, it seems to me, perhaps 
 more than anything else, by an intermittent supply (brought 
 about by conditions which need not be discussed here). I 
 might say, however, that all fish canneries here should employ 
 their own fishermen in order to ensure a continuous supply. 
 
 I do not wish to discuss here special methods of prepara- 
 tion, but would like to draw attention to the already large 
 amount f Mullet and other species of our fishes (principally 
 
the former) which is at present smoked. This branch of the 
 industry alone is capable of enormous expansion ; and there 
 are fishes, such as the abundant Cowanyung (Decapterus 
 leptosomas) which, though they " take the smoke " admirably 
 and make a first-class product, are practically untouched. 
 
 Along with any increase in our fisheries should go the 
 establishment of fish-oil and fish fertiliser factories ; for which 
 there are great possibilities in our country. (In this connec- 
 tion I would refer the reader to the chapter on " Fish 
 Economics " in my " Fishes of Australia," where the matter 
 has been more fully dealt with.) In connection herewith, 
 also, mention should be made of the great use which might 
 be made of the great hordes of predaceous sharks which 
 frequent our shores in the warmer months. Not only would 
 this refer to the production of oil and fertiliser, but to the 
 use of the skins and also of the fins, in which there is really 
 quite an insignificant trade at present. 
 
 Much more might be written here, but as it is my purpose 
 to give only a brief review of the matter, and there are other 
 important branches of the fisheries to deal with, I must 
 pass on. Before doing so, however, it will be useful, as well as 
 of general interest, to give a few authentic records of catches 
 of some of our edible fishes at various times, during the last 
 few years. These are taken from the weekly reports of the 
 various Inspectors of the Department of Fisheries*, and they 
 refer in each case to the product of one haul, or draw of the 
 net. only. 
 
 * The reports here referred to were initiated by me, under the Board 
 of Fisheries in 1902. As I will be able to show at no distant date, 
 I hope, they contain a great mass of valuable data referring to the 
 periodicity, movements, breeding habits, &c, of our fishes. The 
 complete working up of the material, will, however, take some time. 
 
'Quantity of Fish captured in One Haul of the Net {unless 
 
 otherwise stated) on various parts of the coast of New South 
 
 Wales. 
 
 SNAPPER (Schnapper).* 
 Quantity. Date. Locality. 
 
 104 (weighing 1,932 lb.) j 24/6/08 | Port Stephens. 
 
 60 baskets f 
 
 12 
 
 30 
 
 BLACK BREAM. 
 
 1/8/08 
 24/8/08 
 13/6/08 
 
 96 
 74 
 15 
 90 
 
 (in two consecutive hauls) 
 
 28/4/06 
 
 28/4/03 
 
 6/4/07 
 
 I3/5/05 
 
 Wallis Lake. 
 Tuggerah. 
 Hawkesbury River 
 (Broken Bay). 
 
 Botany Bay. 
 Port Hacking (en- 
 trance). 
 
 50 baskets ... 
 100 
 70 
 
 85 baskets ... 
 
 60 „ 
 
 50 „ 
 
 50 
 
 20 
 
 70 
 
 30 
 
 70 
 
 70 
 no 
 
 20 
 
 15 
 
 55 
 
 65 
 200 
 
 20 
 120 
 
 70 
 
 BLACKFISH. 
 
 ...' 12/10/07 
 
 I 30/6/06 
 
 I 3/6/05 
 
 MULLET. 
 
 (in each of two hauls) 
 
 1/8/08 
 
 30/3/07 
 
 28/8/09 
 
 7/8/09 
 
 31/7/09 
 20/7/07 
 26/5/06 
 7/4/o6 
 I5/4/05 
 30/4/06 
 
 3/4/09 
 
 I3/3/09 
 23/5/04 
 23/5/04 
 17/4/09 
 27/3/09 
 20/3/09 
 8/7/05 
 
 Wallis Lake. 
 
 Clarence River. 
 Port Macquarie. 
 Wallis Lake. 
 
 Tuggerah. 
 Hawkesbury River. 
 
 Port Jackson. 
 Botany Bay. 
 
 Port Hacking. 
 Bateman's Bay. 
 
 *As is well known, this species, being a line fish, is not usually captured in the 
 hauling-net ; and this was a most exceptional occurrence. At the same time, it is 
 probable that large catches will be made in the future with the trawl-net while the fish 
 is on sandy ground. Great numbers of large Snapper are taken by line by fishing parties 
 out in tugs. Here is a typical record made by the Fisheries Inspector at Wallis Lake, 
 10th April, 1909: — " A party of eleven caught 450 Snapper on the 8th instant. 1 ' 
 
 t Each basket holds from 75 lb. to 80 lb. of fish. 
 
9 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 22 baskets 
 
 30 
 
 35 
 35 
 30 
 
 GARFISH. 
 
 Date. 
 
 7/8/09 
 3I/7/09 
 27/6/08 
 
 9/6/06 
 
 2/6/06 
 
 Locality. 
 Wallis Lake. 
 
 Tuggerah. 
 Coogee. 
 
 35 baskets 
 
 SAND WHITING. 
 
 ...[ 7/8/09 [ Botany Bay (George's 
 River estuary). 
 
 (Of course, there have been very many other good catches of Whiting, 
 but they are principally noted as either the catch for the day, or 
 the total catch for the whole week.) 
 
 JEWFISH. 
 
 300 large fish " in one haul 
 
 230 " extra large," taken in one 
 
 haul, out of shoal of 500 captured. 
 250 fishes, averaging about 25 lb. 
 
 weight each, caught in one night 
 
 with a 30-yard net ! ! 
 
 4/5/°7 Wallis Lake. 
 1 3/1/06 Lake Illawarra. 
 
 21/1/05 Port Stephens. 
 
 200 baskets ... 
 
 MIXED FISH. 
 
 ! 4/7/08 
 
 Panbula. 
 
 In no case here quoted does the quantity given as having been caught in the one 
 haul really indicate the size of the shoal that may have been present at the one time. 
 
 These catches were all made with nets not exceeding 200 fathoms (1,200 feet) in length, 
 while the Garfish is caught with a net not exceeding 150 fathoms in length. 
 
IO 
 
 CRUSTACEANS. 
 
 The Crustaceans which at present find a place in the 
 fisheries of New South Wales are as follows : — Two species 
 of marine Crayfish or Spiny Lobster of the genus Palinurus 
 (P. hugelii and P. edwardsii) ; one Freshwater Crayfish — 
 or " Murrumbidgee " Crayfish as it is called — (Astacopsis 
 spinifera) ; not less than half-a-dozen species of Prawn of 
 the genus Penceus, of which the principal are (i) the 
 School Prawn (P. macleayi), (2) the King Prawn (P. canalicu- 
 latus), and (3) the Tiger Prawn (P. monodon) ; two species 
 of Shrimps or " Long- armed Prawns, " of the genus 
 Palcemon, one from the estuaries and the other from the 
 rivers ; and five species of Swimming Crab, as follows — 
 (1) the Blue Swimming Crab (Lupa pelagica), (2) the Mangrove 
 Crab (Scylla serrata), (3) the Two-spotted Swimming 
 Crab (Ovalipes trimaculatus), (4) the Blood-spotted Swim- 
 ming Crab (Lupa sanguinolenta), and (5) the Cross-bearing 
 Swimming Crab (Charybdis cruciatus). In addition to the 
 foregoing there are two other large crayfish-like crustaceans 
 of some slight edible importance— Scy/Zams sculptus and 
 Ibacus peronii; but these do not at present appear in any 
 considerable numbers. 
 
 As will be seen from the above, New South Wales is well 
 supplied with edible forms of Crustacea, and no doubt the 
 future will produce a number of others of economic import- 
 ance, even from the ranks of those which are at present of 
 no special value, while the possibilities of augmenting the 
 supplies of those species at present known and used are really 
 enormous. 
 
 Quoting from my recently published " Edible Fishes of 
 New South Wales," we find that in the year 1907, in round 
 numbers, nearly 85,000 Crayfishes,* and 187,000 quarts of 
 
 * In 1908 this number was greatly exceeded, reaching a total of 
 more than 133,000 crayfishes. 
 
1 1 
 
 edible Prawns passed through the recognised markets in 
 New South Wales. In addition, of course, we have to reckon 
 with a very considerable amount of each which entered into 
 consumption without passing through the markets, and of 
 which, consequently, we have no record. These are no mean 
 figures when it is considered that it is generally recognised 
 that we are really only on the threshold of the industry, and 
 it should convey to people some idea of what may be expected 
 with organised effort on a large scale. Though I look for 
 an exceedingly great future augmentation in the supply 
 of the Marine Crayfishes, I anticipate that the greatest 
 amount of development will be in connection with our edible 
 Prawns, which occur in many of our estuaries in really pro- 
 digious numbers ; and here there will be a great field for the 
 operation of canning and drying these Crustaceans — apart 
 from an increased output in the fresh state. 
 
 I have no fully worked up figures by me just now, as regards 
 the number of edible Crabs forming the present annual supply. 
 But it is fairly considerable, though our resources in this 
 respect are only just tapped. 
 
 Very large numbers of the common Freshwater Crayfish 
 are captured and disposed of in country towns, and a con- 
 siderable number of Freshwater Shrimps also ; but at present 
 I have not sufficient data to enable me to make an estimate. 
 A comparative few of the former are sold in Sydney. 
 
 I might add also that in many parts of our western country 
 the little Freshwater Crayfish, known familiarly under the 
 name of " Yabbie " or " Yabby " (Chceraps bicarinatus), is 
 occasionally used as an adjunct to the food supply; but it is 
 quite unimportant. 
 
 Appended are a few general notes on the principal edible 
 Crustaceans of this State. At the same time, I may mention 
 that as soon as opportunity offers, I propose to publish a 
 well-illustrated popular and descriptive account of these and 
 some other Crustaceans. 
 
I 2 
 
 CRAYFISHES (Lobsters). 
 
 (i) Common Crayfish, Palinurus (Jasus) hugelii Heller. 
 
 This is the ordinary form of crayfish so commonly seen in 
 our markets. It is fairly abundant over the whole of our 
 coastline, particularly from Port Stephens on the north to 
 Bateman's Bay on the south. Its capture is effected mainly 
 by means of lobster-pots. Young specimens of this kind are 
 of a deep olive-green usually, though an occasional specimen 
 of a deep reddish-brown is obtained. As they grow large, 
 and after becoming sexually mature, the yellow mottlings, 
 which at first are only apparent on the lower surface, begin 
 to spread up over the sides and around the " head," the 
 rest of the body being of a very much lighter green than 
 that which prevails in the younger examples. 
 
 (2) Southern Crayfish, Palinurus (Jasus) edwardsii Miers. 
 
 This crayfish is not often seen alive in our markets, but a 
 great many are brought up from Victoria and Tasmania in 
 a boiled state. It is a true southern form, occurring very 
 plentifully on the coast of Tasmania, and also in New Zealand. 
 On our own coast it begins to be abundant about Eden. It 
 is not altogether uncommon at Bateman's Bay, and occasional 
 examples of this species are obtained in Port Jackson and 
 Botany Bay. It is even found to the northward of Port 
 Stephens, and during August of the present year was obtained 
 there in some numbers. In its living state it may at once be 
 distinguished by the tyro from the common crayfish by its 
 general reddish tint, and by the fact that all over its body 
 around the base of every protuberance or tubercle, are stiff, 
 short, reddish bristly hairs, whereas on the body parts of the 
 common crayfish there are no hairs at all. Another very 
 helpful and noticeable feature is that all the segments of the 
 abdominal or tail-portion in this species have the upper 
 portions beautifully sculptured, while in the common cray- 
 fish, with the exception of a few pointed tubercles or rough- 
 nesses, the backs of these segments are quite smooth. 
 
*3 
 
 For the benefit of naturalists and others who might desire 
 to critically compare these two crayfishes, a closer description 
 of them is here appended : — 
 (i) Conmon Crayfish, Palinurus hugelii Heller. 
 
 Carapace (body). — Armed generally with acute short spines of 
 varying heights, with the exception of the fore part, which 
 possesses five very large ones, the first in the centre and 
 forming the rostrum or beak, one on each side above the eyes, 
 of about the same size as the rostrum, and one under each 
 eye a little smaller than the three just mentioned. The spines 
 are generally relatively smaller, natter, and not so acute in 
 larger specimens. The carapace is without setae '(hairs) with 
 the exception of a short fringe on the hinder margin. (Rostrum 
 as large as spines above eyes.) 
 Abdomen (tail). — Fairly uniformly smooth and without setae, with 
 the exception of a fringe along the hinder margin of each 
 segment. Small specimens usually have the segment pitted 
 here and there on their upper surfaces with small depressions, 
 larger ones possessing, in addition to these pits, small rough- 
 nesses or tubercles, the pits becoming usually somewhat reduced 
 in number. 
 Telson. — (This forms the middle flap of the tail, properly so called). 
 
 Spiny. Without setae. 
 Eye. — Rather elongate. 
 
 Upper surfaces of legs. — Smooth and devoid of setae. A small spine 
 upon the end of the third joint of each leg, most prominent 
 on the first pair. 
 
 (2) Soutiern Crayfish, Palinurus edwardsii Miers. 
 
 Carapace (body). — Armed with spines, these being more acute and 
 longer than in Palinurus hugelii. There are five spines on 
 the front margin corresponding to those of Palinurus hugelii, 
 but the two above the eyes (supra-orbitals) are by far the 
 largest, and a good deal larger than the supra-orbitals in the 
 latter species. The central spine forming the rostrum is usually 
 small and insignificant and strongly curved upwards. Each 
 spine, large or small, of the carapace is almost surrounded 
 with a fringe of setae (hairs). (Rostrum much smaller than 
 spines above eyes.) 
 
 Abdomen (tail). — All of the segments are sculptured or excavated, 
 leaving broad flat irregularly oval or oblong eminences, each 
 of these being partly surrounded by a fringe of setae. 
 
 Telson. — (This forms the middle flap of the tail, properly so called). 
 Spiny; spines more numerous than in Palinurus hugelii. All 
 spines partly surrounded by a fringe of setae at their bases. 
 
14 
 
 Eye. — Short and thick. 
 
 Upper surfaces of legs. — Rough; covered with several series of low 
 flattened and somewhat rounded tubercles; a fringe of setae 
 in front of each tubercle. A spine upon the end of the third 
 joint of each leg, more prominent and acute than in Palinurus 
 hugelii. The spines of the first pair of legs are scarcely more 
 prominent than the others. 
 
 CRABS. 
 
 (i) Blue Swimming Crab, Lupa pelagica (Linnaeus).* 
 
 This species is by far the most common of our edible crabs ; 
 being, in fact, the only one that is constantly represented in 
 our markets. This, like all our other edible species, is a 
 true swimming crab; having the legs flattened, and the last 
 pair turned into flat paddle-shaped organs, to adapt it for a 
 natatorial existence. 
 
 (2) Mangrove Crab, Scylla serrata (Forskal). 
 
 This species is quite common along our coast — more par- 
 ticularly on the northern portion. It is really a typical 
 tropical species, being still more abundant on the Queensland 
 coast. In Queensland it is often known as the Wide Bay 
 Crab, on account of its abundance in the bay of that name. 
 It does not come into our markets nearly so often as the 
 preceding, nor in anything like the numbers; consequently, 
 as it attains a very large size — being by far the bulkiest of 
 our crabs — it always commands a ready sale and a high 
 figure. In color it is of a deep olive-green or dark brown. 
 It usually occurs in shallow water; and, as its name implies, 
 on mangrove mud-flats, where it is often to be found, in 
 basin-shaped hollows excavated out of the mud. 
 
 *In a paper dealing with the structure of this crustacean, which I 
 re-id before the Linnean Society of New South Waljs in 189S, I dealt 
 with the peculiar form of the pleon or " tail " of what I termed in the 
 body of my paper the " sterile" female, but which I mentioned at 
 the time might simply be the "immature" female. Such is the case 
 and all the females pass through the stage described therein. (Vide 
 " Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, Vol. xxiii, 
 1898.) 
 
*5 
 
 (3) Two-spotted Swimming Crab, Ovalipes trimaculatus (de 
 
 Haan) . 
 
 This crab is not brought to market very often; not, how- 
 ever, because it is not common, but because only the largest 
 specimens of the kind are of a sufficient size to be considered 
 marketable, and as no special fishery for the species exists, 
 large ones are not often caught. It is quite common along 
 our coast in shallow water, on clean sandy beaches ; into 
 which it buries itself. It may be at once distinguished by 
 the somewhat rounded outline of the carapace, and the 
 possession of two irregular red spots, one on either side near 
 the posterior edge of the shell, the rest of the carapace being 
 yellowish. 
 
 (4) Blood-spotted Swimming Crab, Lupa sanguinolenta 
 (Herbst). 
 
 This species is closely allied to the common Blue Swimming 
 Crab, to which it is very similar in shape, though in coloration 
 it is quite distinct, being at once easily recognised by the 
 three remarkable blood-like spots surrounded by blueish 
 rings, which are to be found on the back shell or carapace. 
 Like most of the members of this group of crabs, it is very 
 widely distributed, but it is not very common here, nor does 
 it attain to the large proportions of the Blue Swimming 
 Crab. 
 
 (5) Cross-bearing Swimming Crab, Charybdis cruciatus (Herbst). 
 
 This crab will be at once picked out from others (which 
 are themselves beautiful) by the glorious and delicate colors. 
 On the carapace, and running from front to back, are several 
 milk-white or cream-colored bars, the central ones of which 
 are thought by some to bear a striking resemblance to a 
 cross. I must confess that I have never been able to see 
 the resemblance. The whole shell of this lovely animal is 
 so finely smoothed and so delicately colored that it rather 
 suggests the finest porcelain than a crab's shell. The species 
 is not at all common in our waters. 
 
16 
 
 PRAWNS. 
 
 (i) School Prawn, Penceus macleayi Hasweil. 
 
 This is the commonest of our edible prawns, and is the one 
 usually sold by hawkers throughout the coastal districts 
 generally — especially Sydney and Newcastle. It occurs in 
 tremendous abundance on muddy bottoms in water of from 
 3 or 4 fathoms up to tide limits. It is semi-transparent 
 when alive, and is covered with small reddish spots. It 
 does not attain anything like the size of the two following 
 species. 
 
 (2) King Prawn, Penceus canaliculatus Olivier. 
 
 This handsome species is, from an edible point of view, 
 our finest prawn; as it attains commonly a very large size 
 (as much as 8 or 9 inches in length), hence its vernacular 
 name. When alive, it possesses the most lovely tints, more 
 especially upon the swimmerets and tail. It is caught in 
 some abundance upon fairly deep muddy bottoms (by means 
 of a sunken net), though it often comes to the surface at 
 night and skips about. Though it lives in very much deeper 
 water than the School Prawn, it will survive for a very much 
 longer time out of water than the latter. It has a wide 
 distribution, and is one of the edible prawns of Japan. 
 
 (3) Tiger Prawn, Penceus monodon Fabricius. 
 
 This large prawn is not usually obtained in numbers like 
 the preceding two. It is a deep-water animal, and has a 
 very similar range of distribution to the King Prawn. It 
 attains an exceedingly large size, specimens of 10 inches and 
 more in length having occasionally been captured. During 
 last year (1908) large numbers of this species were captured 
 off Vaucluse, in the lower part of Port Jackson. These were 
 exceptionally large, some of the specimens reaching the 
 gigantic length of over 12 inches (measured from the tip of 
 the rostrum to the end of the telson). It is a very handsome 
 animal, being beautifully barred with vertical tigei-like 
 brown stripes. 
 
17 
 
 FRESH-WATER CRAYFISH. 
 
 Murrumbidgee Crayfish, Astacopsis spinifera (Heller). 
 
 This is also known as the " Murray River Lobster." It is 
 -distributed over the greater part of the western watershed, 
 is also found on the mountains, and is quite common in the 
 County of Cumberland, in the neighbourhood of Sydney. It 
 is, however, in the large western rivers that it attains its 
 greatest perfection and size. This crustacean in coloration 
 varies in different parts and at different stages of growth, 
 from a deep red to a light bluish-grey, the latter being the 
 prevailing tint of the majority of the larger specimens. There 
 is also a great amount of variation in the finer details of 
 -external structure. A close study of a large series of specimens 
 from all over the country will probably show that this remark- 
 able crayfish may be differentiated into a number of well- 
 marked groups. 
 
1 8 
 
 MOLLUSKS. 
 
 Of the vast molluscan fauna of New South Wales only one 
 species is of present commercial importance, this being the 
 Common Oyster (Ostrea cucullata), which is so well and 
 favorably known for its fine edible qualities. Of the others, 
 at least the following are used for food, though not in any 
 considerable numbers : — The Mud Oyster (which is a variety 
 of the almost world-wide Ostrea edulis), several species of 
 Cockle, two species of Saltwater Mussel, as well as a Fresh- 
 water Mussel (Unio)* Abalone (Haliotis) also known as 
 '' Mutton-fish," Ear-shell, &c. (and which is dried and sold by 
 Chinese merchants), a common species of Periwinkle, a 
 species of Whelk (Potamides), various Squids of the genera 
 Sepia, Sepioteuthis, &c, and occasionally the common Octopus. 
 Probably this list could be further extended at the present 
 time, and very probably there will, in time, be a number of 
 additions ; it is also highly probable that species of no im- 
 portance now, will become of very considerable value later 
 on, and when their true worth is recognised. In saying this 
 I am thinking more particularly of Mollusks like the common 
 Mussel, which may be easily and successfully farmed on 
 somewhat similar lines to Oysters, and in many cases in 
 waters or in zones of our littoral, in which the oyster will 
 not flourish. I would like to expatiate at some length upon 
 the importance of a Mussel-fishery in New South Wales, but 
 will have to content myself here with having drawn attention 
 to it, as I wish to deal here more with the very great import- 
 ance of our State Oyster-fisheries. These are now of great 
 value, and there is every indication of a gradual increase in 
 their importance. At the present time nearly 20,000,000 of 
 
 *The common Fresh-water Mussel of our western river system 
 occurs in prodigious numbers, and grows to a large size (5 to 6 inches 
 or more in length). It is bound to come into prominence later on, 
 both because of its edible value and its useful shell, which attains a 
 considerable thickness, takes a beautiful polish, and is well suited for 
 button-making and for ornamental pin-trays, ash-trays, salt-cellars, as- 
 well as for many other purposes. 
 
19 
 
 Oysters (above 2 inches in length) are annually taken off the 
 New South Wales oyster-beds. When it is considered that 
 this is to a great extent the result of artificial cultivation, 
 it is highly gratifying. In the introductory portion of my 
 " Edible Fishes of New South Wales," I stated that " although, 
 this number* very strikingly indicates the present importance 
 of the industry, it may be safely stated that, when all the 
 oyster lands are treated in the same way as a comparative 
 few are at present, the output will be at least quadrupled." 
 I have since thought that I put it far too mildly in using 
 the word " quadrupled." I think really that there would be 
 no exaggeration in saying that the output might be multiplied 
 by twenty — and even then I only refer to areas at present 
 under lease. In addition there are immense areas along the 
 foreshores of some of our estuaries, which, while they do not 
 naturally grow an oyster at present, might, by a method of 
 scientific culture, be turned into great and profitable oyster- 
 farms. 
 
 I would like to touch upon some of the methods of culture 
 at present in vogue in our waters, but must reserve it for 
 another place. 
 
 In saying that the oyster output might be greatly increased 
 let it not be thought that the oystermen of New South Wales 
 are sluggards, or naturally slow to perceive opportunities — 
 but what they need (as already publicly acknowledged by 
 many of them) in common with our fishermen, is a grand 
 system of education, and their interest in a study of the 
 subject should be fostered by means of lectures and by pub- 
 lications distributed freely among them. Experimental oyster 
 farms should also be established under Government control 
 on somewhat similar lines to, and with the same objects as our 
 Agricultural Stations. At these places, various methods of 
 oyster-culture would be tried, the natural enemies of the 
 oyster would be studied, and means for holding them in 
 check or eradicating them would be experimented with. 
 
 * The number I referred to there was "nearly 17,000,000." Last 
 year, however, the quantity was greatly in excess of that, and pro- 
 duction is undoubtedly on the increase. 
 
Even as it is, a great deal of knowledge on various points, 
 in the possession of many men, spread over wide areas, 
 absolutely goes to waste for want of correlation. The mere 
 collation of this knowledge for general dissemination among our 
 people will be a very big step in the right direction. 
 
 I may mention here, in passing, that the Board of Fisheries 
 for New South Wales some time ago entrusted me with the 
 task of making a general investigation into our oysters and 
 the oyster question generally, but under existing circumstances, 
 though a very large amount of valuable information and 
 material have been got together, progress must be necessarily 
 very slow. To carry this great and important national work 
 out to anything like completeness some very special permanent 
 provision — financial and otherwise — will be necessary. 
 
 The following list of New South Wales Oyster Waters 
 should prove of some general interest here : — 
 New South Wales Oyster-bearing Waters, in which Oyster-leases exist 
 
 at present {March, 191 o), from North to South, along Coast. 
 Note. — Those marked with an asterisk are at present the most important Oyster waters. 
 Tweed River and Terranora Creek. Narrabeen Lagoon. 
 
 Cudgara Creek. 
 
 Brunswick River. 
 
 Richmond River.* 
 
 Evans River. 
 
 Clarence River.* 
 
 Sandon River. 
 
 Wooli Wooli River. 
 
 Woogoolga Creek. 
 
 Moonee Creek. 
 
 Coff's Harbour Creek. 
 
 Bonville Creek. 
 
 Boambee Creek. 
 
 Bellinger River.* 
 
 Deep Creek. 
 
 Nambucca River.* 
 
 Oyster, and McGrath's, Creek. 
 
 Macleay River.* 
 
 Hastings River (Port Macquarie).* 
 
 Cathie Creek. 
 
 Camden Haven.* 
 
 Manning River.* 
 
 Khappinghat Creek. 
 
 Wallis Lake.* 
 
 Port Stephens.* 
 
 Hunter River.* 
 
 Brisbane Water. 
 
 Hawkesbury River.* 
 
 Pitt Water. 
 
 George's River. 
 
 Port Hacking. 
 
 Crookhaven River.* 
 
 Kurrarong Creek. 
 
 Callala Creek \ i ev \ s g a 
 
 Cararma Creek ) ■* v ^' 
 
 Currambene Creek. 
 
 Sussex Haven. 
 
 Narrawallee Creek. 
 
 Clyde River.* 
 
 Tomaga River. 
 
 Candlegut Creek. 
 
 Moruya River. 
 
 Congo Creek. 
 
 Tuross Lake. 
 
 Wagonga River.* 
 
 Bermaguee River. 
 
 Murrah River. 
 
 Wapengo Lake. 
 
 Nelson Lake. 
 
 Bega River. 
 
 Merimbula Lake. 
 
 Panbula River.* 
 
 Nullica River. 
 
 Kiah River. 
 
 Wonboyn River. 
 
 Merrica Creek. 
 
OF THE 
 
 o^ 
 
 21 
 
 CETACEANS (Whales and Dolphins). 
 
 Quite a number of Cetaceans roam the waters of our sea- 
 board. Among the Whales are (i) the Southern Right Whale, 
 or Black Whale [Balcena australis), which, by the way, seems 
 to be very little different to the North Atlantic Right Whale 
 (B. glacialis) ; (2) the Hump-back (Megaptera) ; (3) the 
 Common Fin-back, or Black Fin-back (Balcenoptera physalus*)\ 
 (4) the Sulphur-bottom (B. musculus*) ; (5)f the Little Piked 
 Whale, also known as Pike Whale, and in parts as " Grampus " 
 (and which appears to me to be identical with Balcenoptera 
 acutorostrata) ; (6) the large Sperm Whale (Physeter) ; and (7) 
 the little Pigmy Sperm Whale (Kogia breviceps). I also have 
 a report of a Grey Fin-back, from Twofold Bay, which is 
 very likely another species of large Rorqual. There is also a 
 small Whalebone Whale allied to the Black Whale, and known 
 under the generic name of Eubalcena. 
 
 Among the Dolphins, the most abundant form is, of course, 
 the common Porpoise — so called. This is the Common 
 Dolphin (Delphinus delphis). Then there is the Bottle- 
 nosed Dolphin X (Tursio), which appears to be fairly abun- 
 dant; and the great "King of the Dolphins" the Killer 
 (Orca gladiator), which preys largely upon the various species 
 of whale. 
 
 Many years ago Sydney was a whaling port of very con- 
 siderable importance, a number of whalers making it their 
 headquarters. Though this was so, the whales were not 
 necessarily captured on the coast of New South Wales, as 
 the vessels in some cases made long voyages. Nowadays, 
 the only whaling industry carried on in New South Wales 
 waters is that at Eden, Twofold Bay, though whales are 
 
 * These two large Rorquals are generally known here under other 
 specific names, but they do not seem to be specifically different from the 
 two well-known Atlantic forms recognised under the names here given. 
 
 ■f Numbers 1-5 are all " whalebone," or " baleen," whales, as distinct 
 from the sperm whales, which are " toothed." 
 
 \ Not the Bottle-nosed Whale (Hyperoodon), which also occurs in- 
 Australian waters. 
 
often to be found in very considerable numbers off various 
 portions of our coast. Twofold Bay has been a whaling 
 station for many years, and a considerable trade results from 
 the operations of the two whaling parties living and working 
 there. The whales are captured primarily, of course, for 
 their oil; whalebone or baleen also being an important 
 product. A valuable agricultural fertiliser could be made 
 from their carcases after the blubber or " blanket " is taken 
 off, but at present this is not done. 
 
 In the capture of the various species of Whales, the Two- 
 fold Bay whalers are greatly assisted by the Killers or Killer- 
 Whales (Orca gladiator), which harass and pursue the Whales, 
 usually clustering about the head and hanging on to the 
 lower lips in an attempt to force open the leviathan's mouth, 
 with the object of getting at its huge tongue, which is their 
 special titbit. The Killers hem the Whales in towards the shore 
 so that the latter are caught between the whalers and them. 
 
 Among the whales captured at Twofold Bay are the follow- 
 ing species : — The Black Whale (Balcena), the Hump-back 
 (Megaptera), the Sulphur-bottom, the Black Fin-back, and 
 the Little Piked Whale or so-caUed (locally) Grampus ; 
 the three last of the genus Balcenoptera. 
 
 Mr. James Morgan, the editor of the " Eden Observer," 
 and a very keen observer of the whaling in those parts, 
 informs me that the average size of the Black Whales cap- 
 tured is about 50 feet; the largest in many years having 
 been 59 feet. The Hump-backs average 45 to 50 feet. The 
 Sulphur-bottom is far-and-away the hugest beast of our 
 waters, growing to a length of about 100 feet. One captured 
 at Twofold Bay in September, 1908, measured no less than 
 98 feet. This was a * cow," and Mr. George Davidson, who 
 secured it, tells me that she became stranded through her 
 maternal solicitude for her " calf," itself no less than 45 feet 
 long, and which had previously become stranded. It is said 
 that some years back, Mr. George Davidson, the veteran 
 whaler, saw a female about 100 feet long, with a " baby " 
 about 45 feet in length by her side. The Black Fin-back 
 
-0 
 
 is very common, but not so valuable, as the blubber is very 
 thin ; it also grows to a large size. The small Rorqual, known 
 to the Twofold Bay men as "Grampus," is not uncommon. 
 It attains a length, exceptionally, of 30 feet. 
 
 The following statistics in regard to the whaling at Twofold 
 Bay during the last six years have been collected by the local 
 Inspector of Fisheries : — 
 
 
 Number of Amount of oil 
 
 Whalebone 
 
 ear. 
 
 whales captured. produced. 
 
 taken. 
 
 1904 
 
 10 25 \ tuns 
 
 \\ cwt. 
 
 I905 
 
 6 21 
 
 (Not stated) 
 
 igo5 
 
 8 20 
 
 4^ cwt. 
 
 1907 
 
 (Figures not available) 
 
 
 1908 
 
 5 19 tuns 
 
 4£ cwt. 
 
 1909 
 
 10 23 
 
 2 
 
 In the year 1905, 17 cwt. of whalebone was sent to Lewis 
 and Peat, of London, where it realised £1,200. 
 
 Dolphins. — In addition to the whaling, there is at the 
 present time a small industry in connection with the capture 
 of our common Porpoise, or Dolphin. The Dolphin- 
 fishing is carried out somewhat spasmodically by two or 
 three crews only, and in the vicinity of Port Jackson and 
 Botany Bay. Practically the sole object of the fishery just 
 now is the obtaining of the numerous conical teeth (of which 
 a full set consists of about 160). These teeth are purchased 
 by various firms having business with the Solomon Islands, 
 and some others of the Pacific Islands, as well as parts of 
 Papua, where — strange to say — they are regularly used as 
 currency. At present the demand for these teeth is much 
 greater than the supply forthcoming, notwithstanding the 
 abundance of these Cetaceans, and the ease with which they 
 are captured. While this demand lasts there is very evidently 
 a great opportunity for a great increase in the Dolphin-fishery, 
 apart from the return to be obtained from the skins, oil, as 
 well as from fertiliser obtained from the carcases. The price 
 paid by island firms for Porpoise teeth, as they are called, ranges 
 from 8s. to 9s. per 100. One party of fishermen, operating 
 from Botany Bay, obtained in a few months, and sold in two 
 lots no less than 16,000 of these teeth. During the same 
 period they pursued their ordinary calling as fishermen. 
 
H 
 
 SPONGES. 
 
 The sponge fauna of New South Wales is a very large one r 
 but so far it has been very imperfectly worked out, though 
 a number of highly- valuable descriptive papers thereon have 
 been published. Sufficient is known, however, to warrant us- 
 in thinking that there is a reasonable prospect of a sponge- 
 fishery being established in our waters in the not-far-distant 
 future. We possess quite a number of species which would 
 be of value for domestic purposes, and probably amongst 
 the others are many which would be suitable for use in 
 various trades. 
 
 The most valuable belong to the genera Euspongia and 
 Hippospongia, and allied forms. Some of the more valuable 
 species grow to a large size, and — as my own experience 
 bears out — they make, even with a very little preparation r 
 very good bath sponges. 
 
 There are undoubtedly very large natural supplies of these 
 sponges along our coastline, as indicated by the great numbers 
 to be found on many of our beaches after storms. 
 
 Before any sponge-fishery is established here, however, it 
 will first be necessary to carry out a great deal of exploratory 
 work — more particularly in connection with the location of 
 the actual beds and the areas most suitable for sponge-growth. 
 
 Sponges are used for a multiplicity ol purposes. In addition 
 to the many well-known household uses, the coarser kinds 
 and clippings from better kinds are used for stuffing mattresses 
 and carriage cushions. Others are used for various filtering 
 purposes ; others, again, by lithographers. 
 
?5 
 
 SEAWEEDS. 
 
 There appears to me to be a very great scope for the 
 -development of Seaweed industries — and all that that implies 
 — along the coast of New South Wales. At present nothing 
 is done, and, although the development, along economic 
 lines, of our fishes, is of more immediate and pressing import- 
 ance, we should not lose sight of the great economic importance 
 of our great and varied marine flora. Naturally, those of us 
 who are naturalists find our first interest in the large number 
 of interesting groups and the many exquisitely beautiful 
 species which are found to be included among them, but, 
 while fully sensible of triese estimable points of view, it would 
 be foolish of us to ignore their many uses in an economic 
 way, and the part they may play in adding to the material 
 wealth of our native land. 
 
 For the purpose of better indicating the value of our 
 Seaweeds as a national asset, I shall here devote a few remarks 
 in regard to some of the various products obtained from them 
 in some other countries. 
 
 Scotland, Ireland, France, and almost every European 
 country have at present their Seaweed industries, as has also 
 America; but in none of these has it attained to the great 
 proportions to which the Japanese have developed theirs. 
 Apart from the great quantities used locally in the families 
 of fishermen, the annual value in a commercial way of the 
 Seaweed productions in Japan is over £400,000.* Not only 
 is the natural marine growth relied upon as a source of supply 
 but certain species of seaweed are very extensively farmed 
 and cultivated on somewhat similar lines to those followed 
 in the production of oysters. 
 
 The greater part of the marine vegetation is consumed as 
 food, and among sea flora the Laminaria (known fami- 
 liarly to us in a general way as Kelp ), often of huge size, 
 
 * For a very complete account of the " Seaweed Industries of 
 Japan," the reader is referred to Dr. H. M. Smith's admirable paper 
 in Bulletin 24 (1904), of the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries, and also to 
 Sir F. A. Nicholson's '* Note on Fisheries in Japan " (1907). 
 
26 , 
 
 take perhaps the first place. Under the general name of 
 11 Kombu " they are of universal use in the Japanese dietary, 
 though they do not commend themselves in general to 
 European palates. The edible is cut up into small pieces, 
 heated in water, and served as a condiment in broths, or 
 after being sugared or salted, is taken with various fish. One 
 particular species is said to be an excellent substitute for tea 
 with a particularly pleasant fragrance of its own. The 
 importance of the article may be judged by the fact that 
 most of it is used at home, and is only exported to a com- 
 paratively small extent to China; yet this export, on an 
 average of ten recent years, annually amounts in a dry state 
 to 57,644,000 lb. It is an industry of long standing, and 
 occupies many thousands of men, women, and children. 
 
 Another edible seaweed is the "Amanori," a kind of 
 " Laver " of the genus Porphyra, cultivated in numerous 
 places, usually in shallow fiats at the mouths of rivers where 
 the water is not very salt, but especially in Tokyo Bay, where 
 the first objects that strike the traveller's notice as he skirts 
 the bay in the train, are the rows of faggots or fascines of 
 bamboo and brushwood on which the weed grows sticking 
 up from the mud. These are placed in position in autumn, 
 and the crop begins in January and goes on to late spring. 
 The plant grows rapidly on the collectors, is gathered from 
 time to time, washed, minced, and dressed into thin brown 
 sheets about octavo size ; these are then stuck upon bamboo 
 frames inclined to the sun, and when dry are bundled and 
 sent to market. These are said to be slightly roasted when 
 used and to give a desirable flavor to other foods. It is 
 used in many ways, such as minced and served in broths; 
 a favourite recipe is the well-known Japanese " Sushi," or 
 sandwich composed of boiled rice mixed with fish or pulse 
 flavored with vinegar and wrapped up in a sheet of 
 Amanori. An equally common recipe is to serve it with 
 hot rice and Shoyu (Soy) sauce ; it is said to be an excellent 
 appetiser. It does not, however, seem to keep well in the 
 hot weather, but may be dried or canned, when it will keep 
 indefinitely. 
 
Another very important product is that known as Seaweed 
 Glue, called in Japan " Funori," and made principally from 
 marine plants of the genus Gloiopeltis. This is used as a 
 stiffening paste or size for woven fabrics, in putting on wall- 
 paper, and in many other ways. Mixed with lime and sand 
 it forms an excellent cement or stucco. The size or glue 
 is easily made by cutting the seaweed into moderate-sized 
 pieces, boiling it for a short time, and then filtering the mass. 
 The nitrate is the desired substance. 
 
 Certainly one of the most important products of the sea- 
 weed industries is the substance known as Vegetable Isin- 
 glass, and called by the Japanese " Kanten." This is 
 pearly white, shiny, and semi-transparent, having in block 
 form a loose, flaky structure, and is tasteless and odorless. 
 In cold water it swells but does not dissolve, but in boiling 
 water it is readily soluble, and on cooling forms a jelly. In 
 the manufacture of this substance probably more than one 
 kind is used, but the recognised plant is a species of Gelidium. 
 
 In Japan and elsewhere, Kanten (often known under a great 
 variety of names) is used largely for food in the form of jellies 
 (often colored), and as adjutants of soups, sauces, &c. It 
 is also used for purifying sake, the native wine made from rice. 
 In other countries Kanten is employed in a variety of ways, 
 although chiefly in food preparations where a gelatine is re- 
 quired, such as jellies, candies, pastries, and many desserts, in 
 all of which it is superior to animal isinglass. It is also used 
 for the sizing of textiles, the stiffening of the warp of silks, the 
 clarifying of wines, beers, coffee, and other drinks, the making 
 of moulds required by workers in plaster of Paris, and some- 
 times in the manufacture of paper. In China one of its uses 
 is as a substitute for edible bird nests. The large consign- 
 ments of square Kanten to Holland are doubtless destined 
 for the schnapps factories. A very important use in all 
 civilised countries is as a culture medium in bacteriological 
 work; the product is known in the scientific world under 
 the name " Agar-agar," which is the Ceylonese equivalent of 
 Kanten. For this purpose a very pure grade of slender 
 Kanten is required. Other plants beside Gelidium are used 
 
28 ■ 
 
 in the production of Agar-agar, such as the Australian and 
 Asiatic plants, Eucheuma spinosum, Gracilaria lichenoides, 
 G. tenax, and other related species, which yield the products 
 known in commerce as Agar- agar, Agar- agar gum, Agal-agal, 
 Bengal isinglass, Bengal isinglass gum, Ceylon moss, Ceylon 
 Agar-agar, Chinese moss, &c. 
 
 Vegetable isinglass is composed largely of gelose or para- 
 rabin, a substance remarkable for its gelatinising properties, 
 which exceed those of any other known product. It is 
 insoluble in cold water, alcohol, dilute acids, and alkalies ; 
 its melting point is 90 F. It has eight times the gelatinising 
 power of ordinary gelatine and isinglass ; and one part to 
 500 parts of boiling water forms a jelly on cooling. Gelose 
 jelly keeps well, but owing to its high melting point is not 
 so well adapted for food preparations as some other jellies. 
 
 In addition to the kinds of algae mentioned, very many 
 others are made use of ; some being used for the manufacture 
 of jellies, some as vegetables, some in the making of salads, 
 some as condiments, and some for decorative purposes. 
 Large quantities also are used as fertilisers for the soil, while 
 immense quantities are employed in the manufacture of 
 iodine; secondary products being common salt, sodium 
 sulphate, potassium chloride, and sulphur. 
 
 The common Sea-grass (Zoster a) which abounds in the 
 estuaries along our coast is of economic value, though, per- 
 haps, not of much use as a gelatine producer. It is a very 
 useful medium for a " packing M in cases, and is also of value 
 for use in connection with the production of a callus in 
 grape-vine cuttings. 
 
 Professor Blunno, the New South Wales viticultural expert, 
 in the Department of Agriculture, has recently used — and 
 with good effect — a large quantity of this Zostera, obtained 
 from Port Stephens. In regard to its use in connection with 
 viticulture, Professor Blunno favors me with the following 
 memorandum : — 
 
 " The Sea-grass is used mixed with fine sawdust to line 
 the sides of boxes in which are placed cuttings of phylloxera- 
 resistant stocks that have been grafted with cuttings of 
 
-9 
 
 European varieties of grapes. Heat and a certain moisture 
 are necessary for the production by the histologic elements 
 of a callus, which gradually grows and surrounds the zone 
 where stock and scion have been grafted. Before being used 
 the mixture of sea-grass and sawdust is steeped in water. 
 More water is poured on it after the grafted cuttings are 
 laid in layers in the boxes, and the sea-grass, while retaining 
 a suitable amount of that water, lets the surplus escape. 
 The mountain moss was first used instead of the sea-grass, 
 but, apart from being more expensive, had the inconvenience 
 of retaining too much water; with the danger that the 
 cuttings would rot, because the grafted cuttings are kept 
 for about twenty-five days, laid in the mixture at a tem- 
 perature of from 75 to y8° F. In a word, sea-grass is em- 
 ployed in preference to any porous material like sawdust, 
 mountain moss, or sand, because, like them, it enhances 
 the production of a callus, which is the first stage of the 
 knitting of stock and scion, without having many of the 
 inconveniences of those other substances. When the grafted 
 cuttings are planted in the nursery, and vegetation begins, 
 this callus, which is all a cellular mass and nothing else but 
 parenchyma, begins to harden and to undergo the differen- 
 tiation of the histologic elements, and by the end of the 
 vegetative period stock and scion form one whole, and the 
 ascension and elaboration of the aliments is then quite 
 normal.' ' 
 
30 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 In concluding this necessarily brief sketch of the present 
 and potential value of our fisheries, I cannot refrain from 
 drawing attention to a matter which, though I have previously 
 spoken on it (in another place), I feel sure will bear reiteration. 
 I am confident that I will have your sympathy when I refer 
 to the great and pressing need in Australia for more science 
 and more education in our national life. In all departments 
 of the national concern is this necessity apparent, and this 
 may surely be said without in any way disparaging our 
 present efforts, or whatever has been done in the past. In 
 no branch is its necessity more evident than in dealing with 
 our fisheries matters, in which there lie enormous untrodden 
 fields of research. There is, indeed, so close a relationship 
 between scientific investigation and our fisheries, that I feel 
 justified in claiming that it is really the ABC of it all. This 
 need for constant and close inquiry extends to all branches 
 of our fisheries, its application to our oyster fisheries, for 
 instance, being of very special importance. Upon a proper 
 system of investigation depends very largely indeed the 
 future development of our fisheries, and, at the same time, 
 the fund of information to be so gained will form a strong 
 and sound basis for any future regulations having for their 
 object the effective protection and control of our fisheries. 
 
 I am thinking of the words of Professor H. E. Armstrong 
 (quoted by Mr. A. H. S. Lucas in his admirable Presidential 
 Address to the Linnean Society, in March, 1908), when I 
 say that each Department of Government (or at least those 
 connected with our industries) should be " not merely an 
 06106," but " also a busy hive of research." 
 
 On page 17 of my " Edible Fishes of New South Wales," 
 I drew attention to " the great and widespread movement 
 towards the elucidation of fisheries problems which has 
 begun to manifest itself during the last few years in the 
 various States of Australia, led by New South Wales." I 
 also mentioned the investigation ship which was then under 
 
3* 
 
 construction in New South Wales for the Federal Government, 
 and the opportunities its operations would afford of adding 
 to the store of knowledge of our marine denizens. It is par- 
 ticularly pleasing to me now to here place on record that, at 
 my suggestion, the then Prime Minister (the Right Honorable 
 Alfred Deakin, P.C., M.P.) caused the name of " Endeavour " 
 to be bestowed on this vessel at her launching, in memory 
 of the faithful little " Endeavour " of our gallant navigator 
 Cook. The new " Endeavour " has since begun her work of 
 exploration, and has for some time been operating in southern 
 waters in the vicinity of Tasmania and Bass Strait. 
 
 It is to be sincerely hoped that the Commonwealth Govern- 
 ment will lose no time in having the " results " of the 
 " Endeavour's " cruises fully and accurately worked up and 
 published for the benefit of Australia generally — and no 
 doubt this will be done. In whatever part of Australia's 
 waters she works, a knowledge of the results of her operations 
 will be immediately of value to the various Fisheries Depart- 
 ments of the individual States. 
 
 [The vignette' on the back of the wrapper represents the common 
 ' Squid " of New South Wales.] 
 
SYDNEY : 
 
 WILLIAM APPLEGATE GULLICK, GOVERNMENT PRINTER. 
 
 1910. 
 
Brief Review of Fisheries of N.S.W. 
 
 Plate i. 
 
 SOME COMMON FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 (i) Murray Cod, Oligorus macquariensis (Cuv. and Val.). (2) Blackfish, Girella tricuspidata (Quoy 
 and Gaimard). (3) Australian Pilchard, Clupanodon neopilchardus (Steindachner). (4) Sea 
 Mullet, Mugil dobuld (Giinther). 
 
c Of °'7 
 
Brief Review of Fisheries of N.S.W. 
 
 Plate 
 
 SOME COMMON FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 (i) Golden Perch or " Yellow Belly," Plectroplites ambiguus (Richardson). (2) Silver Perch or 
 " Grunter," Terapon ellipticus (Richardson). (3) Sand Whiting, Sillago ciliata 'Cuv. and Val.). 
 (4) River Garfish, Hemirhamphus regularis (GUnther). 
 
Brief Review qf Fisheries of N.S.W. 
 
 Plate 3. 
 
 SOME COMMON FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 (1) Snapper, Pagrosomus auratus (Forster). (2) Black Bream, Chrysophrys australis, Giinther. 
 (2a) Lower jaw of same, showing molars. (3) Australian John Dory, Zeus australis, 
 
 Richardson. 
 
rief Review of Fisheries of N.S.W. 
 
 Plate 4. 
 
 SOME COMMON FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 Samson-Fish, Seriola hippos, Giinther. (2) Kingfish, Seriola lalandi, Cuv. and Val. (3) Tailer, Pomatomui 
 
 saltatrix (Linnaeus). (4) Australian " Salmon " or " Buck," Arripis trutta (Forster). 
 
o. or 9 'Ty 
 
Brief Review of Fisheries of N.S.W. 
 
 Plate 5. 
 
 SOME COMMON FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 (1) Common Mackerel, Scomber colias, Gmelin. (2) Horse Mackerel, Sarda chilensis, Cuv. and Val. 
 (3) Common (N.S.W.) Herring, Sardinella castelnaui (Ogilby). (4) Dusky Flathead, Platycephalus 
 fuscus, Cuv. and Val. 
 
Brief Review of Fisheries of N.S.W. 
 
 Plate \6. 
 
 SOME COMMON FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
 
 (i) Small-toothed Flounder, Paralichthys novce-cambria, Ogilby. (2) Long-snouted Flounder, 
 Ammotretis rostrata, Gunther. (3) Black Sole, Synaptura nigra, Macleay. 
 
Brief Review of Fisheries of N.S.W. 
 
 Plate 7. 
 
 (1) and (2) Part of catch of over 600 Jewfish (Scicena antarctica), averaging about 
 12 to 15 pounds weight, netted at Ulmarra (Clarence River). As many more 
 were let go. (/. McKern, Photo.) 
 
 (?) Killer (Orca gladiator) and Little Piked Whale( Balcenoptera acutorostrata) , 
 both about 30 feet long, cast up on Haslem's Beach, Twofold Bay. 
 
Brief, Review of Fisheries of N.S.W. 
 
 Plate 
 
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 Mr 
 
 i 
 
 V 
 
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 m 
 
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 Common Crayfish (Marine), Palinurus hugclii, UvlUr. 
 
ef Review of Fisheries of N.S.W. 
 
 Southern Crayfish (Marine), Palinurus edwardsii, Miers. 
 
Brief Review of Fisheries of N.S.W. 
 
 Plate 
 
 
 Murrumbidgee Crayfish, Astacopsis spinifera, Heller. 
 
Brief Review of Fisheries of N.S.W. 
 
 Plate i i 
 
 Tiger Prawn, Penceus monodon, Fabricius. 
 

Brief Review of Fisheries of N.S.W 
 
 Plate i 
 
 (i) King Prawn, Penaus canaliculatus , Olivier. (la) "Head" or carapace of same. 
 (2) School Prawn, Penceus macleayi, Haswell. (2a) Carapace of same. 
 
a a 
 
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 woo 
 
 «51 
 
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 s 
 


Brief Review of Fisheries of N.S.W. 
 
 Plate 16 
 
 OYSTER FARMING IN NEW SOUTH WALES, 
 (i) Fine growth on hardwood stake, and (2) on stone; both from F. J. Gibbins' Oyster Leases at Camden 
 Haven. (3) Good growth, 15 months old, on terra-cotta tile, from J. W. Swainson's areas at George's 
 
 River, Botany Bay. 
 

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 55 
 
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VB 16006