Prince. — New Zealand Fisheries 121 



greyish white. The fins are grey spotted with brown, 

 and the dorsal fin, the first five rays of which are sharp 

 spines, runs the whole length of the back. As already 

 stated it is a delicious fish when smoked, but when very 

 slightly salted, it is much in favor, and is of unusually 

 excellent table qualities. Hardly less important is the 

 gigantic Hapuka or Groper (Polyprion oxygeneios, 

 Bloch) which is really a hugh sea-bass or sea-perch, and 

 ranges from 40 to 50 or even 100 pounds in weight. It 

 belongs to the order Serranidaa, and frequents depths 

 of 60 to 90 fathoms, or even still deeper water. It is 

 usually caught by baited hand-lines, but will frequently 

 not take the bait in July, when the fishermen state that 

 it is spawning. A still larger species occurs at greater 

 depths outside, and is called P. Americanus. The gropers 

 are, on account of their firm, white flesh, and their large 

 size, exceptionally important from a commercial stand- 

 point. 



The Moki, which is one of the Latrididse, though less 

 esteemed than the groper, is an excellent food fish, and 

 when smoked, is equal to finnan haddie. It is a handsome 

 perch-like fish ranging from 2 to 19 pounds in weight, 

 and frequents water 10 to 40 fathoms deep. There are 

 two species, the more abundant being Latris ciliaris, 

 Forster, which sometimes completely fills the fishermen's 

 nets ; but another species, Latris lineatus, Forster, is 

 much larger, and specimens three feet long have been 

 taken off Tairoa Head. Both are handsome perch-like 

 fishes, silvery on the sides, and lead-colored with a golden 

 sheen on the back. 



THE SNAPPER A VALUED SPECIES. 



One of the most familiar food fishes, and generally 

 esteemed, is the snapper, Pagrosomus auratus, Forster. 

 It is an active, handsome fish, and typical of the family 

 Sparidae, with a high back, markedly forked tail, ser- 

 rated brilliant scales, and of a delicate rose color, fading 

 into grey along the sides. The snapper is very wide- 



