316 Transactions. — Zoolor/y. 



Toitoi are a small blue fisli similar to those caught in lakes, but larger. 

 They are fau- eating, but rather full of bones — quite unlike the Papanako, 

 which have hardly any. 



Inanga are plentiful. A large kind, called Atutahi, are most esteemed as 

 food ; they are almost 5 inches in length, and quite transparent. 



Upokororo are plentiful during the first winter months, also lamprey ; 

 but the latter are only caught on the lower part of the river. 



The eel most prized by the natives is called Tunaheke. The name 

 implies that it comes from the sources of the rivers, and goes to the sea. 

 It is a very fine fish, varying from 1-10 lbs. in weight; is bluish-black, with 

 flat head, very small mouth and teeth, tail very wide in proportion to the 

 body ; but the most remarkable features are its large, deep, blue eyes. It 

 is very strong and active, and can jump out of a canoe. The natives keep 

 them in large wicker-work baskets, placed in the small streams, for many 

 months, feeding them upon boiled potatoes which keep them in good con- 

 dition. These fish are supposed to come out of the swamps during heavy 

 floods. It is remarkable that they are never caught except during rains, 

 and do not readily take bait. 



Where the Ohura river joins the Whanganui, there is a fall of almost 

 36 feet. In December and January millions of small eels, from 2-5 inches 

 in length and the thickness of a steel knitting-needle, may be seen crawling 

 up the face of the overhanging rock, whenever there is sufficient moisture. 

 At the time of my visit (February 27th) the season was over ; yet we caught 

 a great many, between nine and ten o'clock at night, by brushing them 

 into a net with a whisp of fern It was most interesting to see these little 

 creatures wriggling up the fall in solid masses, apparently hanging on to 

 each other ; for if you swept away twp or three at the head of the column 

 the remainder all fell back into the water. Tunariki are considered a great 

 delicacy by the natives, who hang funnels (shaped like a dunce's cap) made 

 of flax, over the falls, into which these httle creatures creep till it is quite 

 full, they are then emptied into baskets. Two or three hundredweight are 

 frequently caught in one night in this manner. 



Large Patiki (flat fish) are occasionally speared up the river. Formerly 

 they were very plentiful and were caught in nets. 



