QUINNAT SALMON.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1926, Page 4

QUINNAT SALMON.

AN EXPERT’S WARNING. WELLINGTON, March 2!>. Few people in New Zealand realise the extent and value of the salmon fishery of the North Pacific, or even of British Columbia. British Columbia salmon fisheries alone produce from £2,500,000 to £3,000,000 a year. This reminder of the possibilities in South Island rivers was given bv Air J. P. Babcock, who, with Dr C. 14. Gilbert, is leaving by the Makura for San Francisco. Doth these Canadian pisciculturists were delighted with New Zealand and with the only known instance of the acclimatisation of quinnat salmon. “Dr Gilbert and myself,” said ALr Babcock, “came to 'your beautiful islands as overseas tourists for rest and travel, and not iit any official capacity Wo have both for many years been engaged in a, study of the great salinon fisheries of the north-west coast of North America. Dr Gilbert is a recognised authority. Many years ago we became interested in attempts to introduce quinuat salmon to waters in which they did not exist, which included your waters. The records disclose that all such efforts were fruitless except- here in New Zealand. Your success has naturally excited our interest. We have been interested in getting first-hand information. Wo have been afforded exceptional opportunities to do so during our brief •stay. We are under great obligations to your Government and Chief Inspector of Fisheries, Air L. F. Ayson, whose persistent efforts Inne so notably been crowned with success. Air Ayson joined us in the North Island and guided us through 1 lie South Island, which included visits to your main rivers and their great lake tributaries. We witnessed the catching of a. quimiat- and had it- served at dinner, tt was rich in colour, oil and flavour, quite the equal of our best. We have also seen and eaten .Atlantic salmon taken here, ll also was quite the equal of any caught elsewhere. The acclimatisation of both quinuat and Atlantic salmon in your waters is a great achievement, one without parallel. All other dibits to establish quinuat, ill other waters and to introduce Atlantic salmon in the North Paeilie have failed. That you transported eggs for a much greater distance, and through the heat of the tropics, makes your success so much more noteworthy and surprising. All hail to the men who accomplished it. A WORD OF CAUTION. "Both Dr Gilherl and mysell have lieeu astonished at the number and volume of your rivers and lakes and their hundreds of miles of favourable spawning berks. .Surely they promise well for future increase. You certainly have breeding and fresh water feeding areas for the development of salmon comparable in extent to similar waters in British Columbia anil Alaska that produce aimndatitlv. “Your early seedlings have been so successful and the increasing run to your rivers i.-> so apparent that von may look to the future with confidence. provided the stock you now possess is conservatively administered. Forbear yet it. little while that the quinuat- may build up runs that are of commercial importance. Do not make the mistake of cutting your cake too soon. Save all your seed for planting. The salmon-producing capacity of your waters hits not- yet been demonstrated. Having for many years made a. close study of a great salmon fishery, nun I venture so far as to advise that you go slow in catching your quinuat. H I was asked to make your salmiin-fi.-diing regulations they would prohibit, the catching of any quinuat salmon lor years to come. Your policy, as I see it, should be to conserve what you have. Let- time demoitsl rate what the

seed you now have will produce. A’ou may bo on the eve of the development of a great food asset of n great fishery.”