KDIUT.K FISHES. 125 



Oil tlie rivers of the West Coast, who supply the hirge townships witli 

 fish obtained chiefly in the salt and brackish water wathin the river bars, 

 apjxjar to be very confident that the Grayling as they term it, does not 

 enter the salt water, and on the same subject I have the followdng from 

 Mr, C. Hursthouse, of Taranaki : — " The Upokororo, which you describe 

 as a sea-visiting fish, is not such here. I made its esteemed ac- 

 quaintance yeai-s ago in our little helle riviere, WaiwaikaDio. Natives, 

 however, told us that it is solely an inhabitant of fresh water, that it 

 spawns high up the streams, and that though always present in the pools 

 along their courses, they come down in great numliers during floods. 

 The only one ever found here in salt water was a dead one picked up at 

 the mouth of the Henui, after a heavy spate. Oui- most skilful brother 

 of the rod, Mr. J. H. Smith, who, as shown by his diary, caught last 

 year 1,1.52 of these fish in 58 fishing days, taking in one day 93, thinks 

 that Upokororo would no more voluntarily get into salt water than into 

 hot water. Here, with our rude tackle, they don't rise at the ai'tificial 

 fly, but greedily bite at the small red worm which is only found under 

 dry stock di'oppings ; the common garden worm has never tempted 

 one." 



As it is very probable that by many observers the large sized Smelt 

 {Retrojnnna), which we shall find is a fish common to both fresh and 

 salt water, is mistaken for the Upokororo (perhaps in Australia, as well 

 as in this colony), the question is one that still reqiiires further inves- 

 tigation, and it Avill be a most interesting fact if it is established — that 

 this fish which is so universally disti'ibuted in New Zealand, and has 

 close allies in South America and Australia, cannot siu'vive in sea water. 

 Mr. Travers observed this fish in the Matai River in the early part of 

 October; and I have specimens from the Hutt Rivei-, full of spawn, 

 obtained in the month of January ; while on the West Coast they are 

 said to be caught several months later in the season, and even in winter. 

 The Upokororo is readily recognised from the Smelt, which is the only 

 other fish in our streams with a fleshy second dorsal, by its small tumid 

 mouth, shorter lower jaw, and minute teeth, closely placed together like 

 a comb round the jaws. They vary very much in richness of colour, 

 from a general silvery hue and brownish on the back, while others are 

 dark speckled brown on back, and rich yellow, almost golden tint on the 

 belly. PI. X. fig. 91 is from a fine specimen obtained from the Hutt 

 River, that measured 12 inches in length. 



