Sandager. — List of Fishes found at Mokohinou. 



127 



Art. XIX. — List of Fishes fount! round the Mokohinou Inlands ; 

 their Spawning Time; and Observations regarding some of the 

 Species. 



By F. S. Sandager. 



[Read before the Auckland Institute, lith November, 1887.] 



Remarks. 



(/') Caught in from 8 to 15 fathoms duriug the spawning season. At 

 other times it is not, so far as I am aware, found near the Mokohinou 

 Islands, but abounds in from 30 to 60 fathoms some distance (about three- 

 quarters of a mile) off. 



(''J It is very easy to distinguish two distinct varieties or species, one 

 of which is much fatter and with a larger head than the other. The Barrier- 

 Natives call the small-headed or common kind hapuka, and the other 

 maione. 



( e ) Very common all the year. 



( d ) My first specimen was caught in July, 1884, and I observed no more 

 till this year (1887) when others were caught in July and October. The 

 specimens were spawning. 



( e ) Caught two examples with a bit of crab in 5 feet of water, but it will 

 rarely bite. I have occasionally seen this fish in shallow water stirring up 

 the shelly bottom with its barbels, which are darted rapidly forward with a 

 jerky motion. This fish also applies its barbels to the bait before biting, so 

 that the point of the hook requires to be well covered. During fine warm 

 weather it is sometimes seen busily feeding between the tide marks. 



( f ) Very common all the year. 



( s ) Will rarely take the hook, but may be easily speared as it rests on the 

 bottom or moves slowly amongst the Algae upon which it feeds. It is a very 

 fat fish, but unpalatable for food on account of its peculiar phosphorus-like 

 odour. Its stomach is invariably crammed with large round balls of Algfe. 



