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Nelson Historical Society Journal, Volume 3, Issue 4, September 1978

Layer Four (Early Occupation) Fish

Layer Four (Early Occupation) Fish

See Figure 1 for maximum minimum numbers of species identified. The two most frequently occurring species are snapper* (77% of total number of indivduals) and Pseudolabrus spp. (7.4%). Other species occurring (though individually constituting less than 3% of total) are barracouta, red cod, leather jacket, tarakihi, moki, blue cod, ling, gurnard, sea perch and eagle ray. Two elasmobranch vertebrae were also identified, though these could not be speciated.

Figure 1

Fish Species Layer 4: Maximum Minimum Numbers
Species Maxi.Min.No. % of Total
Snapper 94 77.1
Pseudolabrus sp. 9 7.4
Barracouta 3 2.5
Red cod 3 2.5
Leather jacket 3 2.5
Tarakihi 2 1.6
Moki 2 1.6
Blue cod 2 1.6
Ling 1 0.8
Gurnard 1 0.8
Sea perch 1 0.8
Eagle ray 1 0.8
Total 122 100.0
page 10
Fish Species Layer 2: Maximum Minimum Numbers
Species Maxi.Min. No. % of Total
Snapper 117 32.1
Barracouta 79 21.6
Red cod 26 7.1
Ling 9 2.5
Pseudolabrus spp. 40 11.0
Tarakihi 16 4.4
Moki 11 3.0
Blue cod 7 1.9
Gurnard 2 0.5
Greenbone 1 0.3
Conger eel 5 1.4
Anguilla spp. 1 0.3
Trevally 1 0.3
Kahawai 1 0.3
Mackerel (?) spp. 1 0.3
Leather jacket 42 11.5
Sea perch 2 0.5
Southern dogfish 1 0.3
Eagle ray 1(?) 03
Stingray 2 0.5
Total 365 100.1

From studies undertaken by the author on the seasonal ability of the various species found at Rotokura, it is suggested that ca. 9% of the number of individuals identified are most likely to have been caught in late autumn, winter and early spring. This is very weak evidence for winter exploitation. Summer exploitation is more strongly indicated and the presence of barracouta, tarakihi and blue cod suggest activity at this site may have extended well back into spring or on into autumn.

* For scientific names of fish, see Apendix.