Atlantic Salmon BIG RUNS IN SOUTHLAND RIVERS INVERCARGILL, Aug. 17

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1922, Page 4

Atlantic Salmon BIG RUNS IN SOUTHLAND RIVERS INVERCARGILL, Aug. 17

The Atlantic salmon has at last been definitely proved established in the •Waiau river and many streams flowing into .Lake Te Amni. The chief ranger for the Southland Acclimatisation Society, Mr jC. (J. .Evans, witnessed three runs into the Waiau and Upukerora rivers. -The .main runs occurred during June, July and August. On his last visit to town he brought in several thousand salmon ova taken from fish caught in the Upukeroa and stated lie, had seen large numbers, some of a size often exceeding 151 b and 201 b. From .the multitudes of the fish that .lie .had seen and identified in the streams, he was convinced that Atlantic salmon were now firmly acclimatised in Southland. He had seen the fish on the spawning grounds, and under instructions from the society had collected

All- A. H. Stock, president of the Southland Acclimatisation Society, stated to a reporter that Air'll. L. Ayson, Government -Inspector of Fisheries, had not been altogether correct in his race lit inference that the Government had succeeded in acclimatising Atlantic salmon in Southland. A very great deal of credit was due to the- local society, which attempted to introduce this “king of the fresh waters” in the year 1871. when fry were liberated in the Aparinm. Since that time many thousands of ova had been hatched and large nuniliers of fry liberated in Southland rivers ami lakes by both the Southland and Otago Societies. The Hon G. M. Thomson's statement in a recently issued hook that Atlantic snl,llloll acclimatisation was a failure, is incorrect. As far hack as October 1916, salmon were caught in the Waiau. The field experts identified the fish by microscopical examination beyond all doubt. Until now no definite efforts had been made by the society to see it the fish were running. Mr Stock stated that the ova brought in by the ranger, the first Atlantic salmon ever taken in New Zealand streams, would fit hatched and the fry disposed of. The society was in communication with, the Marine Department regarding the right to sell ova, which, it was anticipated, would bring in a large annual income as well as help acclimatisation work in other provinces. Anglers were eagerly expecting a good season’s sport, as the streams were stated to he alive with trout as well as salmon.