LIBERATIONS OF TROUT

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21410, 28 February 1935, Page 14

LIBERATIONS OF TROUT

RAINBOW CAUGHT IN WAIMAKARIRI ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY'S RKPORT The council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society met last evening, Mr F. Sleans presiding. The hatchery committee reported ihat in 1934, stripping was about a fortnight later in the Selvvyn because of floods. Stripping was commenced on May 31, and lasted till July 12. In that time, 2038 females and 817 males were stripped. It was estimated that about 1000 fish escaped upstream before stripping. All the fish were in splendid condition. The curator. Mr J. Digby, had stated that they were of greater size , and weight than in any previous year since 1921, when he first stripped the Selwyn fish. Males up to 141b and large numbers of females from 8 to 111b were trapped. From the Selwyn, 2,980,000 ova were secured, an average of 1413 from each female. When stripping ceased, the river contained thousands of spawning fish, and these had given the Selwyn a heavy natural stocking. It. was very interesting to note that again in 1934 a very heavy run of fish took place about June 30. Mortality at Hatchery A careful record of mortality in the hatchery was kept. Before the eyed stage was reached, losses did not exceed 5 per cent., and after that stage the loss was .90 per cent., a total loss of 5.90 per cent. From Rotorua the committee secured 280,000 eyed rainbow ova, which were successfully hatched and liberated. The officers of the Department of Internal Affairs were to be congratulated on the careful packing of the consignment. During 1933 a quantity of advanced eyed ova was planted in the tributaries of ihe Wi.iau and the Hurunui. It was authoritatively stated that a large number of yearlings had been seen in the Waiau near the place of planting, and the experiment appeared to be worth repeating m suitable waters. During the season a start was made to stock the upper reaches of the Waimakariri with rainbow and 100,000 were liberated. It is the earnest hope of the committee that at least a similar quantity be liberated in that river each year for five years. It was to be hoped that future councils would make a determined effort to establish rainbow in the river. Mr C. H. Lawrence said that he had reports that in the Waiau, fishing in certain localities was better than it had ever been before. Also, from the Waimakariri near Courtenay, a number of rainbow had been taken. Gift for Riccarton Bush It was decided to give £2 2s to the Riccarton Bush trustees. The following were appointed a gam? license committee:—Messrs C. F. Champion, G. L. Pomfret-Dodd, and C. Wheeler. The commodore of the Waimakariri Sailing and Power-Boat Club wrote asking for the co-operation of the society and of salmon fishermen on Sunday next, when the ciub would hold a Canterbury championship sailing race. The letter asked that there should be no undue interference with the boats. The letter said that its object was not to record any cases of interference, but as the race would be a contest of boats from various Canterbury clubs, it was desired that each competitor would perform on his merits, and not be excluded from a chance of winning through interference. The letter was received.