MR JOHNSON'S TROUT BREEDING FARM AT OPAWA.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1407, 19 August 1878, Page 3

MR JOHNSON'S TROUT BREEDING FARM AT OPAWA.

About five minutes' walk from the Opawa railway station on the south bank of the Bivcr Heathcotc is situated the trout breeding establishment of Mr Johnson, formerly Curator of the Acclimatisation Society. From small beginnings, this most interesting and useful industry has grown into an important establishment and a valuable adjunct to the institution of which Mr Johnson was for a considorablo time the practical head. Circumstances led to his eventual retirement from the society, and he determined to carry into effect as a privato enterprise what had for many years been with him a hobby in the old country, where ho gained the experience which qualified him to become a valuable assistant to tho work of acclimatisation in Canterbury. The farm, about fivo acres in extent, is very prettily situated, the ground sloping gently upward in a series of terraces from tho bank of the river. Hero Mr Johnson has for the past two years been engaged in hatching out and rearing both trout, English and American—the latter variety known to naturalists as the " Salmofontinalis," and also the English salmon. His efforts have been very successful, so much so that he has already been able to execute some important orders, which have helped to stock various New Zealand streams with the valuable fish, which may fairly claim supremacy in the river. There are two sets of hatching boxes on the same principle aa thoso used in the Acclimatisation Gardens, but with some technical improvements of Mr Johnson's invention, for tho purpose of causing a circular current of water in tho boxes. Experience has shown that this has a marked effect in tho healthy development of the ova, and is highly beneficial to the young fish when hatched. The boxes are placed on a sloping stage, with a constant stream of water running through thorn, the outflow pouring into a series of rearing ponds, in which aro the older fish of every age and size. The salmon ponds, of which thoro aro many, are connected by

channels or races, the latter in several places being partially dammed and furnished with the same ingenious appliance for giving a rotatory motion to the current. The arrangement of theso races and ponds has been made with an eye to picturesque effect, as theyrise successively f'om the lower to the upper terraces. Mr Johnson is at present hatching out the ova of (he American brook trout already mentioned. This is a fish of remarkable liveliness and beauty, rising more freely to the fly than the well-known brown trout of the English north country streams. Theee trout were originally imported by the proprietor from the Eastern States of America about eighteen months ago. They recently spawned, and the eggs are now being hatched out, being the first from the parent fish in New Zealand. These are also in various stages of development, some half bred, that is English and American, as well as the previously mentioned brown trout, dear to English disciples of Izaak Walton. Altogether, tho boxes contain about 15,000 trout ova in every stage, which are being hatched out daily. Mr Johnson captured one of the American trout, weighing about half a pound, for a more minute inspection than could bo obtained by viewing him in his native element. There is no doubt of the remarkable beauty of the variety, which is perfectly prismatic in colors, which are very bright and exquisitely blended. The specimen reminded one of the enchanted fitth in the " Arabian Nights," which objected to be fried and jumped out of the frying pan. The ponds are all well stocked with American salmon, hatched out about six months ago. Mr Johnson estimates their number at over 15,000, and they are of an average length of 6in. A great advantage is gained for these ponds by the ebb and flow of the river from and into them. The food supplied to tho fish is cooked meat, finely minced in nn American mincing machine, varied with insects, which are very valuable, as forming part of tho natural diet. The insects, both water and land, are required in such quantities as to necessitate their propagation by artificial means, which is also accomplished on the farm. It was a pretty sight to see the young salmon feed, thousands leaping out of the water like flr.shes of silver, turning summersaults as the food was thrown into the water. Mr Johnson considers that when the fish are about eighteen months old they will bo saleable for the table at a fair profitable market value.

It may bo mentioned that Mr Johnson also possesses a small flock of pure bred Angora goats mix-d with half-breeds, tho latter furnishing the animal food for tho fish, while the former possess a peculiar value from their silky fleeces, which can be worked into fabrics of great variety and texture.