312 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Art. XXXVII. — Notes on the New Zealand Whitebait. 

 By Sir J. Hector. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 18th November, 



1902.'] 



The question of the true nature of the so-called " New 

 Zealand whitebait " has been so fully worked out and pub- 

 lished that it is hardly necessary to say more about it. It 

 belongs to the genus Galaxias, and is closely allied to the 

 pike family (Esocidce), and has no relation to the herrings of 

 which the English whitebait is either the young fry or perhaps 

 a separate species belonging to the genus Clupea ; nor does it 

 belong to the Salmonidce, which in New Zealand is repre- 

 sented by (1) Betropinna, or "inanga" of the Maoris, and 

 "smelt" of the settlers; and (2) by the "grayling" of the 

 settlers, or " upokororo " of the Maoris (Prototroctes oxy- 

 rhynchus). All these fish ascend rivers, but they descend 

 perhaps for breeding purposes to the tidal waters. Their 

 history in this stage is still very obscure. 



We thus have in our rivers: (1.) Grayling, or upokororo 

 (Prototroctes oxyrhynchus), which is a game fish, taking fly- 

 hooks, and growing to 14 in. in length, and ascending high up 

 in the rivers at certain seasons in large schools. (2.) Smelt : 

 This delicate fish is common only in estuarian water. Length 

 from 5 in. to 12 in. There are probably two species (Retro- 

 pinna richardsoni and Osmerus eperlanus). (3.) Galaxias* 

 so-called minnow of New Zealand, but, as above stated, 

 allied to the pike of England (Esox hicius). Of this minnow 

 there are probably several species. 



The following are my notes on these fishes, published in 

 1870, but now out of print : — 



The fresh waters of New Zealand are inhabited by only 

 a few kinds of fish as compared with most other countries, 

 and they are mostly of small size. Nevertheless, from their 

 abundance at certain seasons, some species are of con- 

 siderable importance as sources of food, and in a few cases 

 possess more interest for the angler than is usually conceded 

 to them. The two first species I have to mention deserve the 

 attention of observers from their close affinity to the salmon 

 and trout, of which the latter are now being rapidly accli- 

 matised in the streams throughout the colony. 



* Hector, vol. ii., 402; Hutton, vol. xxviii., 314; Powell, vol. 

 84, 417 ; Clarke, vol. xxxi., 78. 



