Fresh-Water Species

Of species found in the fresh waters of rivers, streams, lakes, and lagoons the eel provided the most important food-supply, and it is a curious fact that the Maori, when giving a list of food-supplies, was wont to mention "fish and eels," thus disassociating the eel from all other species. The other principal species formerly taken were the inanga and kokopu (Galaxias and Retropinna), upokororo (Protot-roctes), and panoko (Cheimarrichthys); while the lamprey (piharau and koro-koro) and fresh-water crayfish (koura) were taken in considerable numbers in some districts.

From the Maori point of view the eel was the most important of fresh-water fish, not only because the natives have a marked preference for this species, but also on account of it furnishing a much greater food-supply than the smaller species. Among the inland tribes possessing no seaboard, or whose homes were situated far from the coast, the possession of streams, lakes, and lagoons yielding a good supply of eels or the smaller fish was considered to be extremely desirable, and such food-preserves were highly prized and sometimes fought for with much tenacity. Lands providing bounteous supplies of food products were sometimes the cause of raids, carried out by a tribe that coveted such lands. Prolific lands and fishing-grounds were often alluded to as "food-baskets."

The taking of all fresh-water fish was regulated in the same manner as was the snaring of rats and birds: individuals, families, subtribes, and tribes had to confine their fishing activities to such waters as they were entitled to work. Thus different families, clans, or tribes might have the right to fishing privileges of different portions of a stream or river. Such rights in nearly all cases were based upon the ownership of the lands impinging upon the streams, but occasionally fishing privileges, or the right to trap birds and rats, were granted to parties of fugitives fleeing from the wrath that had come. In some cases as at Rotorua, lakes or lagoons that furnished such food-supplies as fish, shell-fish, or crayfish were worked by different families or sub-tribes, and, if the waters were not too deep, the bounds of the different fishing-claims were marked by means of poles thrust into the bed of the lake.