Kōaro are one of the whitebait species. Māori harvested whitebait from Lake Taupō and are said to have taken kōaro by the hundredweight (50.8 kilograms), using big seine nets. In this scene, one man is using a long-handled dip net, while others are hauling a seine net. Kōaro were important in the diet of those living around the lake, and were also offered to early European visitors such as Governor George Grey. Today it is hard to find a single shoal of kōaro in Lake Taupō or other lakes, let alone catch such numbers.
Using this item
Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Reference:
George French Angas, The New Zealanders illustrated. London: Thomas M'Lean, 1847, plate 55
Hand-coloured lithograph by George French Angas
This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.
Add new comment