BEHOLD THE FISHERMAN

Evening Star, Issue 19197, 13 March 1926, Page 18

BEHOLD THE FISHERMAN

S9HE HEW ZEALAND INTROBUGTIOKS [Written by the Hon. G. M. Thomson, for the ‘Evening Star.’} No. V. 12. AMERICAN CATFISH (Ameiurus- Natalis). This ugly-looking fish was imported into Auckland by Mr T. Russsll in 1877, when 140 of them were placed in St. John’s Lake. Being fish that stay at the bottom of the water, they were lost sight of for some years, but reappeared in considerable numbers in 1884. In the following year they were distributed widely over tho Auckland district, while others were sent to Wo'" liugton, Canterbury, and the West Coast of tlfe South Island. At the present time they occur in St. John’s Lake and Lake Tokapuna in Auckland, in Lake Mahinapua in Westland, m a lew ponds about Christchurch and Ashburton, and probably in several other localities, but very few people know of their existence, ns they are seldom in evidence. The name u catfish n has reference to the presence of eight barbels placed round tho mouth, _ which suggest to persons of lively imagination the whiskers of a cat. They belong to an ancient family of fishes known as the Siluridai. characterised by the absence of scales, and when the skin is not naked it bears bony plates on its surface. They all have barbels round the mouth. The genua Ameiurus to which our introduced species belongs has eight of these appendages. Tho palate is without teeth. The adipose and anal fins are of moderate length; the short dorsal fin has a sharp spine and six soit rays, and the ventral has eight rays. Probably these fish wore introduced for their edible qualities, but the popular name is applied to many species of two or three genera, and it is not at all certain that the particular one introduced into Auckland is one of the best species. They are in great demand in parts of America, and are pre-emi-nently a poor man’s fish, because there they are cheap. One authority says of Ameiurus nebulosus, an allied if not an identical species: “It is one of the best of pan fishes, and has no noticeable bones. It retains its excellence as fresh fish as long as any fish, and longer than most of them. It is oaten and relished by all classes of people, and they would eat more if they could get thorn.” Writing of their habits, Dean savs: “It is ono of the hardiest of fishes, will care for itself, and even thrive in the muddiest of stagnant waters. It will breed readily, and will endure complacently every hardship of drought, extremes of temperature, and lack of food. Every trait of our catfish bespeaks its stagnant, mud-loving nature. Dusky in color,, sluggish and blundering, furnished with long and tactile barbels, a shallow, slowlydrained pond, furnished with an occasional deep mudhole, will suit admirably tho needs of the fish. If the water does become warm in the summer the catfish will survive. Knowing how to survive is one of its especial virtues. Should the pond dry and the whole basin bo serried with mud cracks, the catfish will lie dormant for days, even for weeks.’’ In the severe winter of parts of -the States they hibernate, and bury them selves in the mud, reappearing in spring. When feeding they prowl along the bottom, with tho barbels widely spread, these organs being evidently well provided with sensory nerves. They seem to bo more or less nocturnal in their habits. They will usually take fish, frogs, or worms as bait, and are most readily caught about dusk or later. All species of catfish arc said to be very destructive to the spawn of other species. It would therefore be interesting to find, out whether any other kinds of fish are to bo found in the ponds or lakes into which these curious fish have been introduced. They are about in some localities, and their occurrence and their habits should be investigated. Mr H. Brett, writing to the Hon. 6. J. Garland in September, 1925, says: “Twenty years ago, before tho pumping; stations were put up at Takapuna, the lako water came right into my bathing and boat sheds, and in those days there were generally half a dozen to a dozen catfish swimming over the sand. These were easily caught when fishing for eels In the shallow water. Since the lake receded I have not seen any catfish.” A number of years ago, at different times, small consignments of this species wore sent to Europe. They survived transportation very well, and apSarently throve after reaching their estination. But I know of no further record of them. The following lines appeared about them in ‘ Punch ’ at the time;— The catfish is a hideous beast, A bottom-feeder that doth feast Upon unholy bait. He’s no addition to your meal; He’s rather richer than tho eel And ranker than tho skate.

18.—THE PERCH (Perea fluviatilis). Perch were first introduced into New Zealand by the Ota,go Acclimatisation Society in 1868. They wero obtained from Tasmania, wheer they had already become naturalised, having been introduced there from Britain. Later on they were imported into Southland, Canterbury, Wanganui, and Wellington. No doubt also Auckland introduced them, though no record of the fact seems to have boon kept. They are now fairly common in ponds and lagoons throughout Now Zealand. Tho porch is a bold, handsome fish, Isaac Walton says of himi “Ho has a hooked or hog back, which is armed with sharp and stilt bristles, and all his skin armed or covered over with thick, dry, hard scales, and hath, which few other fish have, two fins on his back.” This is a characteristic of the porchj its scales are large and finely serrated on the free edge, so that the fish is rough to the touch, as every small boy who has caught one knows. The color of the back is dark olive green, with lighter and golden hues on tho sides; the belly is pearly white. Across the body run from five to nine dark bands forming vortical parallel stripes. The first dorsal fin is strongly developed, and has thirteen to fifteen stiff spinous rays, which ore greenishviolet in color, except the membrane of the third posterior ray, which is deep black. When the fish is fighting or is attacked these spinous rays are always rigid, and then the porch is a prickly morsel fox a bigger fish to attempt to swallow. Walton writes: “I have told you he is a bold fish, such a one as, but for extreme nunger, the pike will not devour; for to affright the pike and save himself the perch will set up his fins much as a tux key cock will sometimes set up his tad.” The second dorsal fin has a short spine, followed by fifteen to sixteen soft bmnt rays; its color is yellowish at the base, blending into green and red. Tho ventral and anal fins and tail are usually bright red, tending to orange. He is a very pretty fish, and to those who are fond of quiet pond fishing with a worm as bait, and a float to warn the angler of his bite, tho sport of perch catching is a very pleasant one. The perch is a gregarious fish, which feeds on insects, worms, and sma’ler fishes. Though the name rivularis implies that it is found in rivers, it is really much more at home in ponds and lakes. Again to quote Walton, whose charming classic every one interested in fishes should possess, ‘as one has wittily observed, if there bo twenty or forty in a hole, they may be at one standing all catchod one after another; they being, aa h& says,

like the wicked of the world, not afraid though their fellows and companions perish in their sight. And you raay observe that they are not like the solitary pike, but lovo to accompany one another, and march together in troops.” The perch is also a fish of great vitality, and can be kept out of water for nours._ In parts of Europe they are taken alive to the markets, packed in wet grass, and If iot sold, are returned to the ponds fiom which they were brought. Perch spawn in still or nearly still water from September to November. The eggs, which are covered with mucus, are produced in long strings like ropes of fine beads, which are attached to water weeds. The number of eggs produced is very great, ranging from 250,000 to nearly a million. The fish grow very slowly. According to Maxwell, a three-year-old perch measures, on the average, only about Bin, and weighs three ounces. In its sixth year it will be about 16in long, and weigh lilb. Under favorable conditions it may grow to 31b weight. The record weight for Britain is 81b, though it is said that a nine-pounder was once taken out of the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London. “ I love any discourse of rivers and fish and fishing; the time spent in such discourse passes away very pleasantly. —Walton. (Concluded.)