The Patiki, or Flounder

A small species of flounder is found far inland, in the upper waters of our rivers. These fish, however, do not appear to have been numerous at any time, and so formed a negligible part of the food-supply of the Maori. The species of flounder found in the lower waters of rivers and in lagoons occupied a different position, being numerous in some places.

At Otaki the Natives call the spotted flounder mohoao;it is found in streams having a slow current and muddy bed; while the patiki of brown colour, light underneath, is found in the swifter-running, clear streams.

H. T. Tikao, of Rapaki, South Island, informed me that four kinds of flounder were taken in the Waihora Lagoon, these being known as mohoao, raututu, whaiwhai, and patotara. These were taken in the lagoon from May until the end of August, and were preserved in con-page 227siderable numbers for future use. To effect this the heads were cut off and the fish were hung tail upward on racks to dry; when so dried a rough roof was erected over them to protect them from rain. When required for food purposes they were pounded in order to soften them, and in some cases they were roasted or broiled instead of being steamed. Flounders were taken by means of net and spear. Dieffenbach mentions wooden spears as being used in taking flounders.

A few notes on the taking of the flounder, as supplied by a South Island Maori, are here inserted; they appear in the original in No. 16 of the Appendices:—

"Concerning the methods of taking this fish, the flounder, in the fresh waters of stream and lagoon, let me explain how that fish was taken in the Waihora Lagoon. This lagoon is still being exploited for the flounders it contains during every month the year round; each month it is netted. In the Matahi [month of May] the mohoao species of flounder is taken, and this is the fattest species found at Waihora. Maori folk have always a great desire for that species, and so large nets are cast in these waters to take the mohoao flounder. Most of the flounders are raututu and whaiwhai, which are different species. When flounders are taken they are cleaned and the heads are cut off; they are then hung up on racks to dry. These methods were followed by natives in all parts of the South Island.

"Let me explain another method: If the Waihora Lagoon breaks out into the ocean, then the mohoao flounders make for streams at places worked by people of other villages. Then the folk of Te Umukaha [Temuka], of Waiho, of Moeraki, of Waikouaiti, and Otakou—that is, of other streams that the flounders are entering—all those people of distant places know that Waihora has broken out, because that fish, the mohoao flounder, pertains to Waihora only. The taking of the mohoao flounders came to an end in the Third [i.e., the third month—about July-August], and then attention was turned to taking the raututu and whaiwhai species, and this would continue for the rest of the year; hence the saying about the Waihora lagoon, 'Winds at other places, but food-supplies at Orariki.' Let me explain the meaning of this saying, which is this: there were many kinds of food at other places; fish and other supplies of the Maori were obtained in certain months, but they were not obtained all the year round, during each month of the year, but only in the months during which they could be obtained. But at Waihora such work went on during every month of the year. It is not the case that flounders only were taken, but also eels and other fish—herrings and others when the entrance channel of Waihora was open. Occasionallypage 228great numbers of sea-fish entered the lagoon, when the water-channel would be blocked and so most of such fish would be confined to the lagoon. Then were seen the advantages of the fish-net, at such a time."