Thomson. — On Sea-fishes. 205 



Dates of Capture. — Every month of the year. 



Weight of Fish taken. — Average, 401b. to 451b. ; largest 

 recorded, 1221b., taken at the Brothers, Cook Strait. 



Food. — In almost every case the stomachs were found to 

 contain various kinds of fish, as "red-cod," "herrings," 

 "sprats," "sardines," "garfish," and "rock-cod." In a few- 

 instances "crayfish " and " shellfish" are reported. 



Reproduction. — The observations on this head are quite 

 contradictory. Some are recorded as containing "ripe" ova 

 in January, April, May, June, July, and December; as "near 

 ripe " in June ; as " well advanced " in May ; as " full of ova " 

 in March. Others, however, are recorded as "unripe " in the 

 very same months. 



2. Kahawai {Arripis salar). 



Number of Fish recorded. — 101. 



Localities. — Cape Maria van Diemen, Mokohinou, Bean 

 Eock, Ponui Passage, Portland Island, Manukau Heads, 

 Cape Campbell, Catlin's Kiver, Waipapapa Point, Puysegur 

 Point. 



Dates. — Taken every month of the year. 



Weights. — Average, 31b. ; largest recorded, 161b., from Cape 

 Maria van Diemen. 



Food. — " Small fish " is the most frequently recorded ; but 

 "mussels," " pipi," "shellfish," "crayfish," " shrimps," and 

 " kelp " are also stated as being found in the stomachs. 



liejjroduction.— Specimens taken at Cape Campbell and the 

 Bean Eock are reported as "ripe" in January and February, 

 while the large fish taken at Cape Maria in March are stated 

 to have been " full of roe." 



3. Snapper (Pagrus unicolor). 



Nimiher of Fiah recorded. — 510. 



Localities. — Cape Maria, Mokohinou, Tiritiri, Bean Eock, 

 Ponui Pcxssage, Cuvier Island, Portland Island, Kaix^ara 

 Heads, Manukau Heads, French Pass. 



Date of Capture. — Every month of the year. 



Weights. — Average, 3|^lb. ; largest recorded, 201b., from 

 Portland Island. 



Food. — " Shellfish " is the most common record (sometimes 

 "mussels" or "barnacles"); but Crustacea ("crayfish," 

 "crabs," and "shrimps") are almost as numerous. Less 

 frequently we have "small fish;" while other records give 

 "Hippocampus," "Medusae," "jelly-fish," "young octopus," 

 and " sea-eggs " (?). In several mstances a quantity of sand 

 was present m the stomach. 



Reproduction. — In the majority of the records the ova are 

 stated to be " ripe " from November to February. 



