EDIUl.K FISHES. 121 



Rays. 



This is a group of fishes uot so much appreciated for food as they 

 deserve, and which, though not uncommon, are hardly ever brought 

 to market, at least in Wellington. The Skate {Raja nasuta), closely 

 approaches the fish of the same name which in Scotland is a favourite 

 in the market during the winter months, and is caught in 5 to 10 fathoms 

 water, wherever the bottom is sandy ; but, like other flat-shaped fishes, 

 Avould be most easily taken with a traul. The New Zealand Electric 

 Ray {Torpedo Fairchildii), thoiigh not so far as I know ever used for 

 food, has been figured, PI. XII fig. 134, as it is an 'interesting addition 

 to our Fauna, named after the collector, Capt. Fairchild, of the Colonial 

 Government gun-boat ' Luna,' to whom the Museum is indebted for 

 mimy valuable additions of natural history, obtained by fishing and 

 dredging on all parts of the coast. 



To this family of fishes also belongs the formidable Stingaree, or 

 Waii-epo of the Maoris (Ti-iyon thalassia), which is gx'eatly prized as 

 food among the natives, and in some parts of the coast attains to the 

 most enormous size. It has been recently discovered — by the writer of 

 the animated article in the " Field," on " Fishing in New Zealand," 

 which has already been quoted — that ' Stingareeing ' can be made to 

 afibrd sport of a most exciting kind. His captvire of a moderate sized 

 one is thus told : — - 



" The tide is nearly at its lowest, and the brown waving Laminar la 

 beds are beginning to show ; there is no wind, plenty of light, but a 

 slight sea mist prevents it being too glaring. One in the bow of the 

 dingy, and one to paddle gently on round the first rocky point. There 

 goes an Eagle Ray [Myliobates), and there another and another, more 

 flying than swimming ; but the nearest turns at the motion of the arm, 

 and the whole school fan out to sea with the most graceful motion of 

 theii' wings imaginable, antl after two or three strong beats they shoot 

 along about a foot undei' the water, like kites. Never mind, more to 

 come ! Look aliead ! Amongst the heaving seaweed there are the 

 mighty black fins working up and down, just above the water, -with a 

 strange waving motion — a real black Trygon ! Warily, warily the boat 

 is propelled towanls him, the sciiller sitting face to bow, and the gi-ainer, 

 with the end of the line clove-hitched above his left elbow, two or three 

 feet, according to the balance of the grains, laid along the stafl", and 

 included in the gx'asp of his right hand (most important ; without that, 

 Q 



