CHAPTER VII.

THE FISH WE CATCH AND THE FISH WE EAT.

As the same tackle does for all the varieties of deep-sea fish caught at the Flat Rock, and other fishing grounds along the Queensland coast, they will form a group; and a diagram of the appropriate tackle given beneath the plate of the fish; and the same course will be adopted in connection with river and bay fish, in the cases where the same tackle will answer for catching more than one kind. In the case of fish seldom caught with hook and line, or only caught in small quantities, such as gar-fish, sole, &c., they will only receive brief notice; and it must be understood by "The Fish we Eat," that it is only intended to include in the list in subsequent pages the fish caught with the line, and not those varieties taken with the net, such as mullet, &c. As far as it is possible, the best months will be given for catching the different fish dealt with; but the seasons at times are so affected by droughts, strong winds, and storms, that one year may not be the same as another, and a difference of many weeks may occur in the proper season for the respective varieties of fish coming into the rivers and Bay.

DEEP-SEA FISH CAUGHT ALONG THE COAST.

Schnapper, Groper, Parrot-fish, King-fish, Bonito, Tailorfish, Cod.

In addition to the above, there are other kinds of deep-sea fish caught; but the schnapper is the predominant fish, and the others figure much in the order they

are given above. As an edible fish, the schnapper also claims the first place. The flesh is white and firm, and equally delicious whether boiled, baked, or fried; and if scaled, cleaned, salted with a mixture of salt and glacialine, and hung up in a cool, shady place, will keep for weeks. The parrot-fish comes next to the schnapper for the table; in fact, many prefer it to the schnapper, averring it has a more delicate flavor. The groper, king-fish, and tailor-fish, all have votaries who swear by their excellent qualities, when properly served with the et ceteras that a good cook knows how to garnish them with. Flat Rock, Smith's Rock, anywhere, if rocks abound along the coast, north and south, to the mouth of the Tweed river, the fish enumerated above are to be caught, and the best bait to use is mullet; but shark, any kinds of fish, or meat, will do almost as well, as they are very voracious, taking the bait with a snap like the closing of a spring rat trap, so that little skill is required to hook them. They can be caught nearly all the year round, but the winter months are those chosen for fishing excursions, on account of the sea being calmer, and consequently not so exacting in making the fishermen cast up their reckoning" too often. The westerly winds almost determine the season resorted to for schnapper fishing, and they usually begin in May and end in September; so that there are about five months in the year that answer. Schnapper run from five to twenty pounds, while all the others reach heavy weights. At times, in the winter, very good hauls of schnapper are to be had in different parts of the Bay; off Mud Island, Humpybong, Bribie Island, Peel Island, Macleay and Lamb Islands, Southport, and many other places, but it is always an uncertain thing. You may go out one day at any of the places named to catch bream, and