54 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



In addition to those which remain throughout the year, a very largo 

 number of the fishes of the New Zealand coast, owing to its geographi- 

 cal position, are pelagic in their habits, and roam over a wide range of 

 ocean, visiting our shores only irregularly in pursuit of food. Of the 

 edible fishes of this class, by far the largest number are visitors from 

 warmer latitudes, such as the Frostfish, Barracouta, Horse-mackerel, 

 King-fish, Dory, Warehou, Mackerel, and Gar-fish, while only the Ling, 

 Hake, Haddock, and a few other fishes, which are rare, and worthless 

 as food, are among those of more southern types which reach the New 

 Zealand coast in their migrations. 



There is, however, no reason to complain of any want of useful va- 

 riety in the New Zealand fishes as compared with Britain, for we find 

 that out of 208 species of fishes enumerated as occurring in the British 

 seas, including many which are extremely rare or only occasional vis- 

 itors, only 40 are considered to have a marketable value. In New Zea- 

 land, notwithstanding our very imiierfect knowledge (especially with 

 regard to the gregarious tribes, which there is reason to believe inhabit 

 shoals at some distance from land), out of 192 sea fishes, some of which 

 are only known from single specimens, we have nearly as many varie- 

 ties used for food ns are brought to market in the British Islands. 



Of 140 species of fish enumerated as found in New Zealand, 07 spe- 

 cies are, so far as we know, peculiar to New Zealand ; 75 are common 

 to the coasts of Australia or Tasmania; while 10 species are found in 

 New Zealand and other places, but not in the Australian seas. New 

 Zealand ichthyologj" thus presents a very distinct character, the thor- 

 ough deciphering of which affords a wide field for future observation 

 and scientific investigation. 



The following is a list of the fishes which are chiefly met with in the 

 market : 



Hapuku Oligorus gigas. 



Kahawai . . Arripis salar. 



Eed Snapper Anthias richardsoni. 



Snapper .... .Pagrus unicolor. 



Tarakihi Chilodactylus macropteriis. 



Trumpeter Latris hecateia. 



Moki Latris ciliaris. 



Frostfish Lepidopus caudatus. 



Barracouta . ; Thyrsites atun. 



Horse-mackerel Trachnrus trachurus. 



Trevally Caranx georgianus. 



King-fish Seriohi lalandii. 



John Dory Zeus faber. 



Boar-fish , Cy ttus australis. 



Warehon Neptomenus^ brama. 



Mackerel Scomber australasicus. 



Rock Cod . -Percis colias. 



