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The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [Jan. 
adult fish, but in that of the eggs and larvae, and also in their biology- 
growth, food, migrations, &c., and that the Australian and South American 
species could certainly be made use of in the same way as the European 
one. . . . Hitherto very little use appears to have been made of the 
pilchards of South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, although they are 
very abundant; perhaps in the future sardine industries will become 
established in those parts of the British Empire. 5 ’* 
The abundance of the species referred to was thus described by Hector 
in 1872 :— 
“ Pilchard, or Sardine (Clupea sagax).— This is the true representa¬ 
tive of the herring kind in these seas, and it is reported to visit the east 
coast of Otago every year in February or March. On the last occasion it 
was observed that the shoal was migrating southwards, and extended as 
far as the eye could reach, followed by a multitude of gulls, mutton-birds, 
barracoota, and porpoise. So densely packed were they that by dipping 
a pitcher in the sea it would contain half fish, so that if larger boats and 
suitable nets were employed thousands of tons could be caught. . . . 
Another fish of the same family, reported to occur in New Zealand, and 
exceedingly abundant in Victoria according to Professor McCoy, is the 
anchovy (Engmulis encrasicholus), being identical with the well-known 
anchovy of commerce. 
Confirmative statements have been made by various writers as to the 
abundance of the New Zealand pilchard. Thus G. M. Thomson,J in 
summarizing the observations of lighthouse-keepers, stated in 1892 :— 
“ Pilchard, or Sardine ( Clupea sagax) ; Sprat ( Clupea sprattus). —The 
recorders were mostly unable to distinguish between these species. They 
are only noted from Moeraki, Catlin’s River, Waipapapa Point, and Milford 
Sound, but at these localities they occurred at certain seasons in enormous 
quantities. From Moeraki they are only reported as occurring in March 
* in enormous abundance. 5 In Catlin’s River estuary they were found in 
numbers in the rock-pools in June, the larger ones with the ova well 
advanced. From Waipapapa Point they are recorded by Mr. Erecson as 
passing continuously through Foveaux Strait from November to April, 
usually pursued and driven ashore in great numbers by the mutton-birds. 
In January the ova were nearly ripe in many of the fish ; while of those 
taken in April some were ripe and some spawned. In Milford Sound these 
fish are reported as occurring all the year round, being frequently driven 
ashore by cowfish and other enemies. Their abundance is testified bv 
entries like the following : ‘ December, 1885 : Tons of pilchards thrown up 
on the beaches at the end of this month. 5 Fish taken in October had the 
ova nearly ripe, while for two years in succession they were found to be 
spawning during November and December.” 
The above extracts suggest that there is a vast but neglected source 
of wealth in the New Zealand pilchard. A most suitable subject for a 
research of economic value here presents itself. 
* C. Tate Regan, The British Fishes of the Subfamily Clupeinae and Related 
Species in other Seas, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 8, vol. 18, pp. 1-19, 1916. 
t J. Hector, Fishes of New Zealand, Col. Mus. and Geol. Surv. Dept., 1872, 
pp. 119-120. 
J G. M. Thomson, Notes on Sea-fishes, Trans. N.Z. Inst, vol. 24, 1892, pp. 202-15. 
