MOKI

(Latridopsis ciliaris).

This is a blue-grey and silver fish of shallow coastal waters, found usually where there is a rocky bottom. Adults reach 2 ft in length. Often moki occur in association with tarakihi and, like them, they are bottom feeders, eating a wide variety of animal life. Although found throughout New Zealand, they are more abundant south of Cook Strait. A smaller, blue-coloured moki also occurs in New Zealand's southern waters.

by Lawrence James Paul, B.SC., Fisheries Division, Marine Department, Wellington.