Traditional 'couta boats under sail, probably taken during their annual regatta. The 'couta boat was a wooden open-decked, gaff rigged fishing boat suited to the short choppy seas at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. The fisherman trolled for barracouta, (Thyrsites atun) a species of snake mackeral common in the Southern Hemisphere. Known as 'couta in Australia, snoek in South Africa and sierra in South America. The fish can be up to 200cm long and individuals weigh up to 6 kg.
The boats are now highly regarded and there is an enthusiastic club of owners based at Sorrento, Victoria.
 
Post card. (unused) c.1910.
 
Original hand colour.