310 Transactions. — Zoology. 



they really are. My opinion is that they are a distinct 

 species, and not the fry (or young) of another fish. Of course, 

 the whitebait should not be confused with the young smelt, 

 a native fish that much resembles whitebait, but grows con- 

 siderably larger, some of them growing to 8 in. or 10 in. in 

 length. 



During the last whitebait season Mr. James King, secre- 

 tary of the Westland Acclimatisation Society, obtained a 

 quantity of whitebait from the Hokitika Eiver and forwarded 

 them to me at the hatchery. I received them on the 21st 

 November, 1901, and have had them in the rearing-boxes 

 till the present time. They had the same treatment as the 

 trout-fry, and throve very well, hardly any of them dying. 

 I occasionally put a handful of salt in their water. They 

 increased a little in size — a shade longer and filled out more. 

 About the 10th March, 1902, 1 thought they were showing 

 signs of developing ova, and on examination I found such, to 

 be the case ; and on the 24th March they were nearly all 

 carrying ova or milt. About the end of March and the first 

 week in April a few of them died and burst open, and on 

 examining them I found them crammed with ova. I con- 

 cluded they died through inability to spawn in the box, the 

 conditions not suiting them. I stripped (or spawned) a few 

 of them, but they are too delicate to handle with success. I 

 am trying to get them to spawn naturally in a box I have 

 prepared for them, and to artificially fertilise the ova and 

 hatch it ; but I am doubtful if I can make a success of it with 

 the appliances I have. 



During the season whitebait run up the rivers of Westland 

 in countless numbers, and gradually work their way up the 

 streams, creeks, and small runs of water until they are pretty 

 well dispersed, and it becomes very difficult to find them in 

 the streams. 1 think they run up the streams and develope 

 their ova in the fresh water, and after spawning return to the 

 sea again. A few months after their appearance running up 

 streams they may be noticed drifting down stream again in 

 small numbers, perhaps three or four together, or sometimes 

 as manv as a dozen. 



I am sending a few specimens of the whitebait, both 

 male and female, and also some ova, preserved in formalin. 

 The ova can be seen in the females quite distinctly through 

 the skin of the belly. I would like to have them examined by 

 some of the members and to hear their views on the subject, 

 and any ideas they may have as to carrying out the experi- 

 ment of hatching the ova. If practicable, I would be pleased 

 to trv them and let vou know the result. 



