Fishes of New Zealand. Catalogue, with diagnoses of the species

Fishes of New Zealand
- Catalogue with diagnosis of the species by Frederick Wollaston Hutton, F.G.S. Assistant Geologist
- Notes on edible fishes by James Hector, M.D., F.R.S. Director, with 12 plates

Original Preface, 1872
In 1868 Commissioners were appointed by the Colonial Government to enquire into the extent and value of the fisheries on the New Zealand coasts, as a natural source of wealth.

From their reports, which were published in the two following years,* it may he gathered that filing was at that date pursued as a regular employment only by very few persons in proportion to the population and to the demand; and that the supply of fish, even for the local markets in the chief towns on the coast, was very insufficient and irregular, while little attention was directed to the preparation of fish, either for sale in the interior or for export. Owing to various causes, the statistics obtained were very imperfect, but, in a general way, it was shown to be probable that, at the date mentioned, the total annual value of fish brought to market in New Zealand did not exceed £15,000, which may be estimated from the other data, contained in the report, as equal to an average yearly consumption of about 35lbs. weight of fish by each person, taking as consumers only those who reside within reach of fishing stations. During the last two years more attention has been devoted to this industry, and it is worthy of special notice that several
factories have been established for pickling, drying, and otherwise pre- serving fish for sale, so that this estimate may now be under the mark. At the same time the evidence obtained by the Commissioners sufficiently indicates that wholesome fish are abundant on every part of the coast, and that our seas afford choice varieties, suitable both for immediate use in the fresh state, and for preserving as an article of commerce. It was, however, found impossible to acquire any precise information about the seasonal distribution and habits of the different species from the want of an accepted nomenclature, and from the vague manner in which the popular names of English fishes are applied in various parts of the Colony.

The following work has therefore been prepared in this Department with the view of establishing an uniform nomenclature, accompanied by sufficient descriptive details to enable persons in different parts of the Colony to follow the study of this most useful and attractive branch of Natural History. As the basis of the work, an extensive collection of our fishes was accumulated in the Museum, together with sketches and other information bearing on the subject, and from this material the systematic Catalogue has been prepared by Captain Hutton.

To his portion of the work I have added a few brief notes on the Natural History of those species of fishes which are useful as food, a subject on which as yet our information is very imperfect and frequently contradictory. Nevertheless, I have thought it better to publish these notes, as their defects may induce others, which have better opportunities
for observation, to communicate information on the subject, and thus help us to acquire a complete knowledge of the Ichthyology of New Zealand at an early date.

In order to assist those who are not versed in the scientific terms of zoologists in their attempts to recognise our fishes by the popular names now proposed, forty-nine of the species, chiefly such as are most commonly met with in the market, have been lithographed in outline by Mr. Buchanan. In most cases these drawings were from fresh specimens, and may therefore be relied on as accurate. At the same time, beginners who desire to study Ichthyology, and to enlarge our list by further discoveries, must not rely in their comparisons on these or any other drawings, but on the fullest descriptions they can obtain, combined with personal observation of the fishes themselves.

Several changes will be observed in the nomenclature of our fishes from the list given in the Catalogue of the Colonial Museum (1870), which was prepared from Richardson's list given in Dieffenbach's work on New Zealand. These changes are chiefly owing to the circumstance that Dr. Günther's magnificent work on Ichthyology, which forms the basis of the present classification, was not accessible until that Catalogue was in type, and consequently only a few of the more prominent amendments could be adopted.

The changes in the present Catalogue affect sixty species out of one hundred and thirty-eight formerly enumerated ; of these thirty are fishes that are not mentioned in the previous list, fifteen of them being species which have been discovered since its publication. The other thirty alterations are changes of name and do not affect the actual number of known fishes.

JAMES HECTOR.
Colonial Museum,

Wellington, February, 1872.