WHITEBAIT STUDY

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1930, Page 7

WHITEBAIT STUDY

OLD MAORIS’ KNOWLEDGE.

(By E. T. Frost in the Auckland

Weekly.)

In view of the recent information, gathered by Captain Hayes regarding the spawning of the whitebait in the Manawatu River, it is interesting to no,to the habits of the fish in the \4uikato River from whence comes the itebait that supply the demands of Auckland and other towns in the

North Island. Many people have the

idea that whitebait is the young of a much larger fish, sucli as the sprat or {herring. Such, however, is not the case. Whitebait (G'-'axias attenautio) is a minnow which grows to about four inches in length. ' In the Waikato River the adult whitebait migrates downstream in March and April. Although shoals havo been seen in May and dune, the great migration takes place during the earlier months. The old Maoris affirm, and personal observation confirms it, that the fish make for the river mouth only at spring tides. The best runs take place at the spring tides about the autumnal equinox. The old Maoris knew their habits and reaped a great harvest at this time. At cei bain suitable places, where previous observations disclosed that the fish swam close inshore, weirs were placed in the stream which grad-

ually converged to a narrow opening, at which a “hinaki” or eel trap was placed. A dose watch was kept, and when a shoal was neon to Jr liter the trap it was lifted and the contents emptied out into a canoe. Literally .tons were ‘taken this way, and the fish was considered a great delicacy,, being full of roe. They were kept indefinitely by 'drying them in the sun, and then packing them away in kits which ’ were often hung up in the roofs of the wharcs, where they were partially smoked.

The adult fish having arrived a 1 the lower reaches of the river, deposit their spawn at high-water mark, ain't t!iere it is left high and dry. It, can bo readilv understood that it will require a similar high tide later on to release the young fish when hatched out. TTndrr ordinary circumstance's this generally occurs, as the winter gales accentuate the tides on the west coast, and ais the river is usually flowing at a higher level owing to the heavier rainfall. Occasionally a dry winter will occur, and it will nerd careful observations to note whether there is an appreciable difference in the quantity of fish that are hatched out. BACK FROM THE SEA.

The young whitebait, when hatched out under normal conditions, drift down the stream and go out to sea. 4fter a period, probably a month or six weeks, they return to the river mouth and re-enter the river and make their way up. They are then in the form with which most people are

familiar. About two inches long and transparent they uwim in shoals close alongside the river bank, making from four to eight miles a day, according to the strength of the current.

As night closes in they cease to move and settle down in the weeds and wait for daylight when a. fresh start is made The Maoris have tried to take them on bright moonlight nights, when they w r 're in the river in abundance, but without results.

Til passing it may be mentioned thAt the adult fish having fpawned, reiscend the river and probably wait up ■■bream until joined by the new mig•ation. At this time the Maoris did not consider them worth taking. The oi l Maoris had a saying that when the kiokio flowered profusely there would he a good whitebait season . Certainly the combination is not here this season. The kiekic has hardly flowered at all and the whitebait season lias been a sparse one.

With the large number of fishers who line the rivers hanks and catch practice ly all the young ones that come up it is a wonder that enough escape to keen up the supply. Eels must 1 take toll of the eggs as they lie in the rushes, and probably 'the wild duck do also. The wonder is that the small fish after passing out to sea find ther way back so unerringly to the narrow river mouth. Here again' the forces of Nature make or mar a season. DOMING INTO RIVER.

Being a fresh water fish it does not want to stay long at sea, and as the river pours out its volume of fresh water it lowers the salinity or destiny of the sea, it is able to pick up tfic fresher water out at sea and follow it up to the mouth of the river. As floods iu the river would effect a greater area at sea, the fish would he effected more quickly than if only a moderate outflow prevailed.

Here again the old Maori, a close observer of Nature, had a saying that autumn floods ensured a good whitebait season, and the reason may he twofold, first that it ensured the river rising high enough to release the young fish when hatched out, and second that a larger area of sea was affected by its increased outflow, and the conditions made more suitable for the young fish while at sea. However, there is much yet to be learned about their habits, and only patient research, such as that recently undertaken by Captain Hayes will reveal the secrets of their life history. As it is one of the two fish foods canned and exported from New Zealand it constitutes a primary industry and every means taken to ensure a steady simply will be of benefit to the Dominion.