102 EDIBLE FISHES. 



kno^v^l to us by repoi-t, wo have nearly as many varieties used for food 

 as are brought to market in the Biitish Islands. 



Of the 140 species enumerated in the foregoing Catalogue, sixty- 

 seven species are, so far as we know, peculiar to New Zealand ; seventy- 

 five are common to the coasts of Australia or Tasmania, while ten 

 sjDecies are found in New Zealand and other places, but not in the 

 Australian seas. New Zealand Ichthyology thus presents a vei-y distinct 

 character, the thorough decij^hering of which affords a wide field for 

 future observation and scientific investigation. 



1. Hapuku. 



The first on the list of marketable fishes is the Hapuku or "VVhapuku 

 of the Maoris {Oligorus giyas), or Habuka, as the name is generally pro- 

 nounced by Europeans, who in the south apply the name Groper to the 

 same fish. It is also occasionally called the Cod fish, which is altogether 

 en'oneous, as it is more properly the representative of the Sea Perch 

 (Seranus) of European seas. 



This fish has a peculiar interest from its close affinity to the famous 

 "Mun-ay Cod" (0. Maquariensis) which inhabits the rivei's in the inteiior 

 of the Australian Continent. The Hapuku, howevei', never enters 

 fresh water, but is a deep sea fish, though not generally captured far 

 from the coast. Round exposed rocky cajjes and islands that rise in 

 twenty to fifty fathoms water, with patches of sandy bottom, appear to be 

 the favourite feeding and spawning ground of this fish during the season, 

 and on nearly every part of tJie New Zealand coast where such con- 

 ditions prevail the Hapuku may be obtained from November to May 

 at the proper time of the tide. During the winter season they are 

 seldom caught, as they probably leave the coast for deeper water. In 

 the month of July I have, however, caught many of them far up the 

 sounds on the west coast of Otago, in fifty to sixty fathoms of water, 

 showing that it is rather a change in the depth of water than 

 distance from the coast which they seek by this migi-ation. Hapuku 

 fishing is excellent sport, the average weight of the fish being about 451bs., 

 but occasionally large specimens reaching to 130fcs. weight are caught. 

 The head and shoulder cut of this fish is most dainty food, but the 

 flesh of the remainder is rather coarse and stringy ; it is, however, well 

 adapted for pickling, and may yet become a valuable ai-ticle of commerce. 

 The Hapuku fishing in the northern parts of the Colony is thus 

 described by an early settler. 



