TROUT OVA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20076, 24 October 1939, Page 8

TROUT OVA

SUPPLY TO AUSTRALIA SUCCESS OF CONSIGNMENT COMMENTS BY MINISTER The Government recently exported a consignment of 500,000 trout ova or eggs from Rotorua to Australia, and (he Commonwealth authorities have indicated that they need further supplies. The ova was stripped from trout taken in the streams of the department's hatcheries in the district, packed in special containers and shipped by one of the usual intercolonial steamers. Cabled advice stated that the ova had reached Sydney in splendid condition. The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E, Parry, stated in Rotorua that the export of ova to Sydney gave mutual satisfaction to the New Zealand Government and the State Government of New South Wales. Some years ago quantities of trout ova were sent from New Zealand to the Commonwealth fisheries, but supplies were discontinued because of the opinion that all the ova collected should be reared into fry, and liberated in the lakes and streams of the Dominion. Ample Supplies Available With the new hatchery and other equipment in full working order, it had been found that the insistent demands of Australia for Now Zealand ova could be met without reducing the quantities of ova required annually for the many lakes and streams of the thermal district. “There is a fair industry," Mr. Parry added, "in the collection of additional quantities of ova for Australia, and it augments our revenue from the fisheries. Besides, there is always the courteous call of Australia for our ova, and this inter-trading between the two sister Dominions forms a fine gesture. Liberations in Rotorua District “When I was in Sydney representing the Government at Australia’s 150th birthday celebrations, The State Fisheries Department and anglers strongly urged me to arrange with our Government to resume The export of ova to the Commonwealth. They declared the New Zealand ova to be the best, if not the most virile, in the world. Australia had had wonderful results from it and almost any quantity, they said, could be taken and advantageously used."

The Minister added that the returns supplied to him showed that 4,174,000 fry or young trout had been liberated this season in the lakes and streams of the Rotorua district. “Those are splendid figures,” commented Mr. Parry, "and they testify to the' efficiency of the new hatchery which has carried out the work expected of it."