Thomson. — On Sea-fishes. 203 



to the work involved ; but if tliis paper is thought worthy of 

 pubhcation, and if copies of it are distributed to those who 

 have aided in accumuhxting the material dealt with, I have 

 little doubt it will stimulate many to fresh exertion. 



The public at large do not know much about the fishes of 

 our coast, except as far as the commonest kinds only are con- 

 cerned. They cannot even name the majority of them. This 

 is seen in the returns examined by me, where in several cases 

 wrong names or unknown names are given, so that I cannot 

 identify them, and have had to reject the observations. It is 

 quite evident that the people require to be educated in regard 

 to the asset this country possesses in her fishes. And it is by 

 headmark, and not by any amount of scientific description, that 

 this will be best done. The most satisfactory mode would be 

 to issue large-sized drawings, accurately printed in colours, in 

 the best style of art, with brief accompanying letterpress, and 

 distribute these among schools in the coast districts, to light- 

 houses, pilot-stations, &c., as well as selling them to the public 

 at as low^ a figure as possible. The expenditure incurred by 

 such a publication would be recouped to the country in many 

 ways. 



The following is a list of the localities from which fish have 

 been recorded. Those which are not lighthouses are marked 

 with an asterisk. It must be borne in mind, in going over 

 such a list, that, situated as most of the lighthouses are on 

 rocky promontories or islands, the conditions are not often 

 favourable for fishing, even from the shore, and still less 

 often for boat fishing. Hence in some cases the number of 

 fish recorded as taken is very small : — 



1. Cajje Maria van Dicmcn. — Kahawai, snapper, moki, 

 trevally, king-fish (haku or yellowtail), rock-cod. 



2. Mokohinou Islands. — Hapuku (or groper), kahawai, 

 snapper, hiwihiwi, Scorpana bynoensis, barracouta, tre- 

 vally, maomao, rock-cod, spotty, parrot-fish, Cymolntus sanda- 

 geri, leather-jacket {Monacautlitis), korokoro-pounamou. 



3. Tiritiri (Auckland). — Snapper. 



4. Bean Bock (Auckland). — Kahawai, snapper, king-fish, 

 conger-eel. 



5. Ponui Passage. — Kahawai, snapper, king-fish, mullet 

 (kanae), dog-fish, stingaree. 



6. Cuvier Island. — Hapuku, snapper. 



7. Portland IsZaHcZ.— Hapuku, kahawai, snapper, tarakihi, 

 moki, frost-fish, barracouta, trevally, king-fish, john-dory, 

 warehou, maomao, parrot-fish, flying-fish, smooth-hound, 

 soldier-fish ('?). 



8. Pencarroio Head. — Butter-fish (kelp-fish). 



9. Somes Island (Wellington). — Eock-cod. 



10. Kaipara Heads. — Snapper, frost-fish. ■ 



