124 American Fisheries Society 



which, however, no regular fishing can be carried on, 

 on account of its erratic and peculiar mode of occurrence. 

 Each season quantities are taken after frosty nights 

 in winter, being cast upon certain flat beaches, and 

 writhing like silvery snakes, 4 to 5 feet long, may be 

 captured by hand, hundreds at a time. The flesh does 

 not keep very well, but it sells at high prices in the 

 local markets, for it is regarded as one of the most 

 delicious fishes in New Zealand waters. The cause of 

 this suicidal tendency is a mystery. Possibly they are 

 male fish, affected seasonally, as has been found to be 

 the case with the pollock, and other marine species. 



HAKE, RED COD AND OTHER KINDS. 



The esteemed John Dory, Zeus faber, the hake, Mer- 

 luccius gayi, sometimes called whiting, the mackerel, 

 Scomber pneumatophoras, the sword fish, and a species | 

 of pilchard, are native to New Zealand waters. A small 

 herring not to be compared with the herring of northern 

 seas, also occurs. The small red cod, Physiculus bachus, 

 Forster, 12 to 20 inches long and 2 to 5 pounds in weight, 

 is very widespread, but vast quantities are thrown away 

 by the fishermen because there is little or no demand 

 for them. The fish is somewhat insipid, but it could be 

 readily utilized on a large scale, for when smoked, its 

 qualities are much improved, and it is one of the most 

 plentiful of inshore fishes. They disappear for a season 

 or two unaccountably, after one or two seasons of 

 abundance. 



WASTE OF FINE GURNARDS. 



Hardly less abundant is the gurnard {PHonotus) , of 

 which three kinds occur, the commonest is of a brilliant 

 red color with fine, firm flesh, but so little desired by the 

 public that tens of thousands caught by the fishermen are 

 thrown back into the sea. It is not inferior to the 

 esteemed gurnards of Europe, but is usually wasted in 

 large quantities each season. 



