The species in New Zealand is <i>Dysporus serrator</i>, Grey;
Maori name, <i>Takapu</i>.
<hw>Garfish</hw>, <i>n.</i> In England the name is applied to any fish of the family <i>Belonidae</i>. The name was originally used for the common European <i>Belone vulgaris</i>. In Melbourne the Garfish is a true one, <i>Belone ferox</i>, Gunth., called in Sydney "Long Tom." In Sydney, Tasmania, and New Zealand it is <i>Hemirhamphus intermedius</i>, Cantor.; and in New South Wales, generally, it is the river-fish <i>H. regularis</i>, Gunth., family <i>Sombresocidae</i>. Some say that the name was originally "Guard-fish," and it is still sometimes so spelt. But the word is derived from x<i>Gar</i>, in Anglo-Saxon, which meant spear, dart, javelin, and the allusion is to the long spear-like projection of the fish's jaws. Called by the Sydney fishermen <i>Ballahoo</i>, and in Auckland the <i>Piper</i> (q.v.).
1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 288:
"Charley brought me . . . the head bones of a large guard-fish."
1849. Anon., `New South Wales: its Past, Present, and Future Condition,' p. 99:
"The best kinds of fish are guard, mullet, and schnapper."
1850. Clutterbuck, `Port Phillip,' c. iii. p. 44:
"In the bay are large quantities of guard-fish."
1875. `Spectator' (Melbourne), June I9, p. 81, col.1:
"Common fish, such as trout, ruffies, mullet, garfish."