TELEOSTEI 253 



Roach {Leuciscns rutiliis) 



Shipped by Mr Johnson by the 'British Empire' in 1864, but all 

 died on the voyage. 



Minnow {Leuciscus phoxinus) 



A number were shipped by Mr Johnson in 1864, but all died on 

 the voyage out. 



Family SiluridjE 



* American Cat-fish {Pimelodus cattus) 



In 1877 the Auckland Society received 140 fish from Mr T. 

 Russell, and placed them in St John's Lake. They were lost sight of 

 for a time, but reappeared in considerable numbers in 1884, and it 

 was stated that they were evidently increasing fast. In 1885 they were 

 caught in hundreds, and were sent to many parts of the provincial 

 district. At the present time (1916) they are plentiful in Lakes St 

 John and Takapuna. 



In 1885 some 30 fish were sent down to Wellington and placed 

 in a Mr Perry's pond at Petone, but no one to-day seems to know 

 anjrthing about them. Probably about the same time Mr A. M. 

 Johnson of Opawa obtained some from Auckland, and had a few 

 there till recently (191 6). 



Mr Jas. King of Hokitika informs me that some were Hberated 

 in Lake Mahinapua on the west coast, but he does not know when. 

 In the annual report of the Westland Society for 1904, the secretary 

 states that "Mr T. Green, of the South Spit, showed me two nice 

 American Catfish, weighing 3^ lbs., caught accidently while fishing for 

 eels in Mahinapua Creek. Mr Green considers the lake and creek 

 to be full of them." Mr Ayson tells me that at the present time 

 (191 6) they are plentiful in Lake Mahinapua. 



Mr W. W. Smith informs me (April, 1919) that they are abundant 

 in ponds about Ashburton, probably obtained from Mr Johnson in 

 the eighties. 



Family GASTEROSTEiDiS 



Stickleback (Gasterostem aculeatus) 



In 1885 Mr S. C. Farr obtained 36 sticklebacks from the Brighton 

 (England) aquarium, and shipped them by the 'Kaikoura' to the 

 Canterbury Society, but they all died in the tropics. 



In 1893 Mr Clifford brought a number of these little fish out 

 to Dunedin for the Otago Society. Some of them were kept for years 

 at theOpoho Hatchery, and some were transferred to Clinton; but both 

 lots seem to have disappeared, which perhaps was not to be regretted. 



