FISH HATCHERY REPORT

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1923, Page 3

FISH HATCHERY REPORT

DENEDIN, Dee. 21. Tim report of Duo Pnrtnbollo Marine Fish 11 at eliery Board, which has carried out important experimental work for many years, and i- the inly one of itis kind in New Zealand, stales: ''Hie last .shipment of Fuiepean lobsters and crabs arrived by the Waimana at Port Chalmers on March Ist. 1023. when II lobsters and 13 crabs "ere received. At Dm same time ibo turbo!, each about the size ol liali-a-eruwn. were placed in the tanks. The outbreak of 1 1. ( ore ar war and the complete disorganisation of Dupping. which resulted. prevented any renewal of shipment-. Owing to Dm eoiiliinied high p.-br of freights, it is doubtful "Imthrr anv a'-tion can bo taken in the way of renewal of stock's. Ol the turbot’ 1711 fish were liberated in 1919 and 10! 7. and I 1 other' were retained in the tanks, where, however. t he.v a"* nimbi" to spawn on account, t I the lack of dent!, and pressure of water. Some of iln.se have reached 2:1 inches in length : hut Dies have not grown for j iv ll year-. They are now at least 12 years old and one nr two have recently died, perhaps from old age. Meanwhile nothing lots boon :ooti ol those put out in Tautuku Bay. it is hardly possible that limy are till lost, as turbo! jiroduee an enormous number of egg--. ißuekhiiid records a 221 b imh as p redlining 1-1 Itiilheul. it is (criain th:t if only one turbot spawned and ill" eggs Were fertilised, there must be vast numbers of thorn in Die sea. so it is hoped that they will yet appear. The crabs (lit! not thrive well in the hatchery ponds, and several died. In the Home seas they always migrate to

deep Witter on the nnpronrh of winter, us the cold is fatal to them. Probably the Portohdlo nomls. being shallow, were teo cold in winter, so about a icore were liberated into the. 'c.t. Meanwhile about 32.099.00(1 larvae wore produced and -ct free again. Tt seems incredible that litis species is hist it) our seas. Previous to the AA ailmimi'' shipment, i.c.. between lOOfi and 1913. 17 lobsters had been received at the It at eltery and great numbers of larvae had been liberated. Since then another million and halt htitao have gone into the -ml and about a score of adults wore also planted on the coast. As the last lobsters received in 1913 were then at least 10 years old. it ie not a matter of surprise that that mitnher of adults in confinement is be-

ing reduced, and only four or five are now left in the ponds. The hones of

fs_"poea ram aof these three species of fish and crustaceans are hosed not only en the iniprohohility ol their total destruction, but also on the fact that several animals which were introduced into this country and were thought to have failed completely to establisn them selves, are now known to have become naturalised. AVith these encouraging examples before them, the Fish I Fitchew Board are quite hopeful that turbot, lobsters and crabs may yet be met with in the New Zealand seas.