QUINNAT SALMON IN WAIMAKARIRI.
TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PBESS." Sir, —It has been stated that therd has been a record rua of salmon, in the Waimakariri this season. .Judging from my own experience, I would consider the run a very poor, one, and Mr G. B. Hobbs's remarks on his recent trip down the river from tho B'ealoy seems to bear out this statement. As ho says, ho saw no salmon above tile Gorge, and attributes their absence to tho rapids in tho Gorge, which prevented them from ascending. Ido not think this latter is correct, as in their native waters they'ascend rapids aiid. canyons for hundreds of miles, and anything they would encounter-'in the Waimakariri Gorge, in comparison, would be a mere circumstance. The fact is no large run took place, and instead of increasing each season, as some would believe, until our riverbeds were covered with dead fish, and a menace to public health, it is taking them all their time to hold their own, Quite fifty or sixty per cent, of the fish taken in the Waimakariri this season were badly mutilated by sea fish, presumably sharks. These -represent the ones that escaped. We can only conjecture how many thousands were .devoured. From the time the smolt enters the sea at one year old, until it again enters tho river to spawn at four years old, it has to run the gauntlet of natural enemies. It is also well known that the later running fish do not ascend very far, and the majority would spawn below the Gorge. Should a flood occur after spawning, in all probability where the ova were deposited would be dry shingle, owing to the river continually altering its course, so that from one cause or another it is small wonder they do not increase. And in my opinion they will require careful fostering for years before they are in sufficient numbers to be used commercially. Their introduction was a triumph in acclimatisation work, and from a sporting point of view alone the Marine Department deserve the thanks of the angling community; but by prematurely opening the river for netting this season they have imposed a hardship on the Waimakariri anglers, who own' more than one hundred huts on its banks, and who look forward to their week-end outing. The north train stops there on Saturday afternoon for their convenience, and also on Monday morning for the return trip. Tho anglers interested should take concerted action through their Council, to have this grievance remedied before another season if possible. —Yours, etc., ONE OF THE FOOLISH.
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Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18365, 24 April 1925, Page 13
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433QUINNAT SALMON IN WAIMAKARIRI. Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18365, 24 April 1925, Page 13
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