Occasional notes. III. Western Australian prawns and sponges
Abstract
In the report of the Fishing Industry for WesternAustralia,referred to by Mr. Edgar R. Waite, Mr. Gale writes "I am pleased to be able to report that prawns in fairly large quantities were caught in this locality. The species discovered, Euphausia pellucida, are very large, some measuring as much as nine and three quarter inches from head to tail, and from a gastronomic standpoint are very excellent. They appear to exist in quantities over a large area of ground, and I am firmly of opinion that a new industry will eventually be established in these waters." A single large prawn was included in the collection forwarded, and this I identify with Penaaeus semisulcatus, De Haan. As this attains considerable size it is probable that the large prawns mentioned are of this species.