GIFTS TO MUSEUM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22261, 8 November 1935, Page 16

GIFTS TO MUSEUM

RAKE FISH PRESENTED CAPTURE BY TRAWLER 'NATIVE OBJECTS OF VALUE Recont accessions to the Auckland War Memorial Museum include sovoral interesting natural history and native objects. A good specimen of Ray's bream, a rare fish in New Zealand waters, caught from the trawler Humphrey between tlio Little Barrier and the Great Barrier Islands, has been presented to the museum by Sanford, Limited. The specimen is 25in. in length and 12in. deep. This particular species'of fish, of which only four or five have been caught on tho New Zealand coast, has a wide range, and is known in tlie Mediterranean. A star fish, which is completely covered with brilliantly-coloured tubercles, is another valuable accession. The specimen was obtained by Mr. Kokieh, of tho launch Dalniatia, when fishing in 29 fathoms of water off Sail Rock, in tho Hen and Chickens Group. It is a new species of asterodiseus, and tho brilliancy of its colours aro such as ono would expect to find in the tropics. Formerly there were four known species, which were found onlv in tho Philippine Islands. An excellent specimen of a hinaki, which was used by tho Maoris for catching eels, has been presented by Mr. I'. Pearson, of Kerepeehi, Hauraki Plains. It is plaited from tho split stems of tho niangeinange, a climbing fern, and provides another example of tho patience and workmanship of the early Maoris. Other articles that will find a place in the museum are an Indian sword, or tulwar, in its wooden scabbard, and a bundlo of arrows from Santa Cruz, presented by Mr. D. Lewis, of Dunedin.