BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 53 



30 THE Fli^DEBIES OF NEW ZEAIiAIVD. 



By JAMES HECTOR, M. D. 



[From Handbook of Now Zealand, 1883.] 



New Zealand is the chief center of the southern whale fisheries, and 

 at certain seasons the less frequented harbors are visited by whalers for 

 the purpose of refitting and carrying on shore fishing and barreling 

 their oil. These are generally American ships, but Otago and Auck- 

 land whaling ships are also equipped by New Zealand owners. The 

 sperm whale abounds in the region of the ocean lying to the northeast 

 of New Zealand, but stragglers are found all round the coast. In the 

 open sea and to the south the most jirized whale next to the sperm is 

 the black whale or tohoro [Euhalwna australis), which is like the right 

 whale of the oSTorth Sea, but with baleen of less value. Along the shores 

 the chief whales captured are the hump-back {Megaptera) and rorqual 

 {SibbaUUiis), which become very abundant when not disturbed for a few 

 years. 



VALUE OF WHALE OIL. 



In 1875, 20,845 gallons of black oil were exported, valued at £4,100, 

 and 7,775 gallons of Si>erm, valued at £2,894. In 1877, 15,047 gallons 

 of sperm-whale oil were exported, valued at £4,032. In 1881, 20,088 

 gallons of si)erm-whale oil wei^e exported, valued at £5,059. 



SEAL FUE. 



The sea-bear or 'fur seal {Arctocephalus cinerens) is found on the remote 

 parts of the coasts, about a thousand skins being taken every year by 

 boafing parties. In 1875 there were exported 2,767 seal- skins, valued 

 at £4,050; and in 1877 there were exported 1,503 seal-skins, valued at 

 £1,052. In 1881, 1,259 seal-skins were exported, valued at £1,717. 



The fishes which we find in the New Zealand seas on the whole rep- 

 resent the characteristic forms of the southern or Lusitanian provinces 

 of European coasts. In other words, our New ZeaJand fishes resemble 

 those which are found on the coast between Madeira and the Bay of 

 Biscay more than they do those which are caught about the north of 

 Scotland. Of 33 sea fishes that are used as food in New Zealand, we 

 have among the constant residents of all parts of our coast the Hapuku, 

 Tarakihi, Trevally, Moki, Aua, Rock Cod, Wrasse, and Patiki ; and while 

 the Snapper, Mnllet, and Gurnet are only met with in the north, the 

 Trumpeter, Butterfish, and Eed Cod are confined to the south. But, 

 with the exception of Patiki, or Flounder, and the Eed Cod, none of 

 these are representatives of fishes that are common even in the south 

 of Britain, while from the more northern seas similar fishes are alto- 

 gefchei' absent. 



