Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/321



November, 1890, H.M. Surveying Ship 'Penguin,' Capt. W. Usborne Moore, was on a voyage from Gascoyne Roads, West Australia, to Fremantle, en route for Hobart, Tasmania, after an arduous and successful surveying season on the north-west coast of Australia. On the afternoon of the 12th, while steaming across Shark's Bay, a strong breeze sprang up right in our teeth, and we accordingly anchored, two hours before sunset, in smooth water under the lee of the north end of. We were within half a mile of the shore, which consisted of sandstone cliffs about 150 ft. high, and dunes of blown sand covered with rough grass and scattered bushes; nothing like a tree being visible, although such parts of the interior of the island as could be seen from the ship appeared to be fairly well clothed with grass and herbage.

Our boatswain, who was an indefatigable fisherman, soon had his line overboard, but without getting a single bite for a long time. At last he hauled in a very handsome reddish-silvery Bream-like fish, which I recognized at once as the "Snapper," Pagrus unicolor, well known and highly esteemed all round the Australian coast. Every fishing-line in the ship was quickly over the side, and for an hour quite exciting sport was Zool. 4th ser. vol. I., July, 1897.