269 
1918.] The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. 
Bass. Polyprion americanus (Bloch and Schneider). 
Until recently described by Waite, this species was considered to be 
an older hapuku. Numbers come into the city for several days on each 
month from midsummer to autumn, when the supply commences to 
increase. Towards the end of winter a marked falling-off in numbers 
is noticed, and the supply ceases altogether during the spring and early 
summer months. 
Snapper. Pagrosomus auratus (Forster). 
Though essentially a North Island fish, the snapper is an occasional 
visitor to the coastal towns of the South Island. I have recorded it as 
being abundant in Wellington during October, November, and December. 
Sandager* gives the spawning season during November and December. 
This is probably correct, as I have noticed numbers with fully developed 
ova brought up with the trawl early in December. 
Boughleyt in his recent work has called the snapper the national fish 
of Australia, and in many ways it amply justifies its title. In his use 
of this elegant species in design Roughley has shown the possibility of 
fishes being adopted by our art instructors to give a grace and charm 
to decorative art, which so far as New Zealand is concerned is as yet 
practically undeveloped. 
Hake, or Southern Iyingfish. Rexea furcifera (Waite). 
Although undescribed until recently, this is one of the chief food fishes 
of New Zealand. In the spring numbers of immature specimens are 
received in Wellington by rail from Napier. Towards the end of September 
mature individuals arrive in abundance, and continue to come in large 
quantities until the end of January, when the supply commences to diminish. 
Small quantities continue to come in during each month of the year. 
The hake is extremely voracious, and readily-devours any smaller fishes 
which come its way. On one occasion I noticed an example brought up 
in the trawl which had its stomach enormously distended to accommodate 
a kahawai— Arripis trutta (Forster)—which it had swallowed in two pieces, 
and which in life had been nearly as long as the hake itself. 
Ling. Genypterus blacodes (Bloch and Schneider). 
This species appears for sale on several days during each of the summer 
months, but comes into the city in larger numbers during May, June, and 
July. 
On the 14th February of this year I received a message from the 
Hawke’s Bay Fisheries Company to inform me that no fish had been caught 
that morning by the launches which went out from Island Bay at day¬ 
break, but numbers of ling and whiting were found floating on the surface 
in a dead or dying condition. Some of these had been collected and 
brought into the city. During the day I was enabled to examine these 
fish, and all were of a large size and in perfectly good condition. 
* F. S. Sandager, List of Fishes found round Mokohinou Islands, their Spawning- 
times, and Observations regarding some of the Species, Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 20, 
pp. 127-33 (ref. to p. 127), 1888. 
t T r C. Roughley, Fishes of Australia and their Technology, Technological Museum, 
Sydney : Technical Education Series , No. 21, pp. 1-296, with 67 plates, 1916. 
