新西兰英语 182 Whitebait

　　Whitebait is the name we give to four different kinds of very small native¹ fish. The most common whitebait is called inanga in Maori. It is only about 5 or 6 cm long so you need quite a lot to make a meal. However, it is hard to catch and expensive to buy. You can only catch whitebait for 3 or 4 months of the year because some kinds are endangered². September 1st is the beginning of the season for people living on the West Coast³ of the South Island. The season finishes in the middle of November.
This is the time that whitebait return to the rivers to lay their eggs after six months in the sea. People catch them in the mouth of the river. People who fish for whitebait are called whitebaiters. There are many rules. Whitebaiters use nets which they put in the river but they have to stay close by. Sometimes they catch nothing. If they catch a cupful of whitebait, they feel lucky. This is why whitebait are so expensive to buy.
If someone gives you some whitebait, you can make whitebait fritters. You use eggs and a little flour⁴, add the whitebait and cook this like a pancake or omelette. Squeeze⁵ some lemon juice on the fritter when it is cooked. The little whitebait will turn white when you cook them. You eat the whole fish including the head.

1 native   

adj.本国的，本地的；n.本地人，本国人

参考例句：

• No government shall take away the rights of the native people.任何政府也不能剥夺土著人的权利。
• This is my native land and I'll defend it with my life!这是我的祖国，我将用生命保卫她！

2 endangered   

adj.濒于灭绝的；(生命等)有危险的

参考例句：

• The health of our children is being endangered by exhaust fumes. 我们孩子们的健康正受到排放出的废气的损害。
• Poison gas blew off and endangered the lives of hundreds of persons. 毒气喷出来，危及几百人的生命。

3 coast   

n.海岸，海滨，滑坡；vt.沿海岸而行；vi.下滑

参考例句：

• They're holidaying on the west coast.他们正在西海岸度假。
• There are thousands of villages on the coast.在沿海有上千座村庄。

4 flour   

n.面粉，粉；粉状物质

参考例句：

• We make flour into bread.我们用面粉做出面包。
• The rats have eaten holes in those bags of flour.大老鼠把那些面粉袋嗑出了窟窿。

5 squeeze   

vt.硬塞，硬挤；挤压；n.榨；经济困难；拮据

参考例句：

• This machine helps you to squeeze more juice out.这台机器能挤出更多的果汁。
• It was a tight squeeze in the crowded bus.公共汽车上载客太多，挤得很。