edible fishes. 107 



10. Tarakiiii. 



{CModactylus macropteroi,). TliLs is a very common fisli in tlie market, 

 and comes in as early as September. Two sizes are generally sold during 

 the spring Uxonths— the smaller ones, three or four to the pound, being 

 the best— the flesh of the larger fish, which are 3 to 61bs. weight, being 

 considered rather tasteless. Throughout the whole year the Tarakihi may 

 be caught with the hook in ten to twenty-five fathoms water Math a sandy 

 bottom. It is at once distinguished from either of the following fish, 

 which it resembles in shape, by the long finger-like ray of its pectoral 

 fin. PI. II. fig. 10 is an outline reduced one-tenth from a specimen 

 caught in October. 



The next fish in the catalogue {C. spectaUlis) is known only from a 

 single specimen, but Mr. Liardet informs me that it is not uncommon, 

 and reaches a lai-ge size. 



12. Trumpeter. 



The Tnimpeter {Latns hecateia), which is the Tasmanian name for 

 the same fish, and which the natives call Kohikohi, is the best flavoured 

 of any of our fishes, and, though abundant, is so extremely local in its 

 habits, remaining continually on certain patches of feeding ground, that 

 it is only rarely brought to market. It feeds on a sandy bottom in 

 twenty-five to thirty-five fathoms water, preferring banks or shoals. It 

 is caught with the hook, and if the proper fishing ground is once found, a 

 large haul of these fish, averaging about 61bs. each, is soon obtained. The 

 areas which they frequent are very limited, and requii-e to be carefully 

 marked. During six months' experience on the west coast of Otago, the 

 greater part of which time we subsisted on fish, only two spots were dis- 

 covered where we caught this much prized variety. It was formerly sup- 

 posed to be peculiar to Tasmania, but has lately been found on banks near 

 the Victorian coast, from which the Melbourne market is supplied. The 

 Kaikoura Peninsula appears to be a favourite ground for this valuable 

 fish, Mr. Ingles stating that there the proper ground is three miles oflf 

 Point Keene in thii-ty-two fathoms, the exact patches being laid down 

 by private marks ; but that they are also caught oflT almost evei-y point in 

 the peninsula as long as the depth of water is over sixteen fathoms, and 

 that they range from 6 to 30ft)S. weight. In shape the Trumpeter is like 

 the Moki, but is easily distinguished from it by the longitudinal bands of 

 colour and smaller mouth, which is better armed with teeth than in that 

 species. Whether fresh or smoked, the Trumpeter always commands a 



