STOCKING RIVERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20058, 3 October 1939, Page 8

STOCKING RIVERS

TROUT FISHING AREAS WORK OF HATCHERIES PROSPECTS FOR SEASON Although stripping was delayed owing to the cold weather during June, over 10,000,000 ova have been handled at the Internal Affairs Department’s trout hatcheries at Ngongotaha at id Tokaanu. while 800,000 have been hatched at Waikaremoana, bringing the total to above the figures of the previous season.

During the past few weeks liberations have 'been made from the hatcheries three times a week and practically all the rivers, lakes and streams in the Rotorua. Bay of Plenty and Taupo and Tokaanu districts have now been stocked. To date 3.000.000 fryhave been liberated from Ngongotaha and the remainder of the final hatching of 2,000,000 will be put out in to the lakes and streams shortly. Some time ago the department exchanged 500,000 rainbow trout ova for a similar number of brown trout ova with the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, and these also have now been hatched and liberated in the Bay of Plenty and other streams. Early indications are that there will lie plenty of fish of takeable size for tlie opening of the season on November 10. At Tarawera during the winter period fish of up to 161 b. have been taken for experimental purposes by the department, while large specimens have also been seen in other parts of the district.

Mr. A. Kean, conservator of fish and game, stated that so far he had had no advice that the opening date would be altered from November 1 until later in the month, as had been sug-

gested in some quarters, while the suggestion that Lake Okataina was to be closed this season was also without foundation.