126 American Fisheries Society 



of extremely delicate flavor, but it must be fished for 

 with a hammer and chisel as the bunches of these shell- 

 fish adhere firmly to the rocks, mainly in the northern 

 waters of New Zealand. Deep-sea oysters occur espe- 

 cially in the Foveaux Straits in 15 or 20 fathoms, and 

 are of considerable size and exceedingly good quality, 

 though not equal to the rock oyster. They are scien- 

 tifically called Ostrea angasi, Sowerby. 



NEW ZEALAND CLAMS ARE SUPERIOR. 



A most excellent clam occurs, especially on certain 

 shores of the North Island, called the toheroa, a very 

 delicate and delicious soup being made from these shell- 

 fish. Quite a fishing industry has been developed on the 

 clam beds, which occur over considerable areas of the 

 eastern shores. 



A few words are necessary in regard to the fresh- 

 water fish which were almost absent from the rivers and 

 inland waters before the white man settled in New 

 Zealand. The native fresh-water species are very few, 

 and not to be compared with the fresh-water species of 

 North America. 



EELS, WHITE-BAIT AND OTHER NATIVE RIVER FISH. 



Native eels (Anguilla) are extremely abundant, and 

 indeed are a menace to superior fish, but the white-bait 

 or small Inunga, is extremely abundant, and much 

 esteemed as a delicacy on the table.* There are several 

 species of so-called native trout or Kokopu (Galaxias), 

 and they afford a small amount of sport, but they have 

 been altogether overshadowed by the introduced species, 

 namely the rainbow trout, European brown trout and the 

 Pacific cutthroat trout. 



•Locally stated to be the young of the New Zealand Smelt (Retro- 

 pinna) and the so-called native trout (Galaxias), but the specimens 

 examined by me were the young of the latter (Galaxias). 



