Page:Memoirs of the Queensland Museum Vol VI.djvu/134

 me by Mr. J. H. Hamson, and fully endorsed by Mv. J. Trevethan, both of many years' experience, give practically all the definite information that is known about this ^ecies. Mr. Hamson writes:—

"With regard to the fish commonly called 'perch,' there appears to be some ditference of opinion amongst anglers as to whether they make their first appearance for the season from the bay or from the npper reaches of the river. For the last two seasons I have canglit the first exami)les early in Mra'ch (this year on the •ith, in the Hamilton Reach), and the first good catches are usually made in the Newstead and Mowbray Park Reaches of the river, and gradually the fish travels higher uji. On the 20th of last March, while fishing in the reach near the South Brisbane Cemetery, 1 was told by two olil residents of the district that 'the perch had not got up that far yet.' They, of course, arrived later on, and are even now (Sept. 18) fairly plentiful in the upper reaches, for no later than yesterday a friend and I caught 86. It would be interesting to know where they go during the sunnner months; do they go out to sea again? or do they remain in the upper reaches? They evidently travel at times in large schools, and at times bite very freely, 'doubles' being a common occurrence. It is nothing unusual for a party of three or four anglex's to return after a ni'»ht's fishing with a catch of about 200. One can never be quite sure at what time the.y will bite freely; sometimes they are at their best just before and after slack water; at other times the running tide seems to suit them best ; while gi'uerally they feed more freely during the night." Finally thei'e is another remarkable circumstance connected with these fishes which, were it not vouched for by numbers of our most reliable anglers, appears well-nigh incredible. It is that prior to the great tlood of IMarch, 1898, which overtiowed all the low-lying lands along the banks of the Brisbane River, and caused great destruction of life and property, this little jewfish was unknown in the river, its i)lace being taken by the "golden jew," a fish of a briglit yellow eolor, which now occurs only singly and at long intervals. Follow- ing the subsidence of tlic waters after th(^ 1893 flood, the present species appeared.

Uses: — Opinions ditfer as to its value as a foodfish ; personally 1 consider it as a well-flavored and ])leasant addition to the menu of th(> breakfast table.

Food: — By coninioii consent prawns are acknowledged to be the most favored bait for the perch, but they will also take a fish or fowl-gut bait.

Range: — This is one of those species of jewfishes which have a very limited range. I have notes of its capture at Nerang (.'reek, Southport Pier, Coomera and Logan Rivers, Cleveland Jetty, Brisbane River, Doughboy Creek, Sandgate J'ier, Pine River, and Bribie Island, all in the Moreton Bay District and, as before mentioned, in the ^lai'y River at 'IMaro.

Dimensions:— Never or very rni-ely exceeds 300 mm.

Our illistratioH is taken fi-oin a siieeiiiieii in the Queensland Museum. Reg. No. I. 2890.