QUINNAT SALMON

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1928, Page 1

QUINNAT SALMON

SUCCESSFUL HATCHERY WORK. WELLINGTON, Sept. (>. The Marino. Department’s report states that stripping was this year confined to the Hakataramoa River. Tlie results were entirely satisfactory, and a considerable saving was effected in the cost of hatchery work. The run of spawning fish in tho Waitaki River was equal to that of the best years in the past as regards the number of fish, hut the average size was reported to ho smaller. The total number of eggs collected and put down to incubate was 1,013,000. Of those 000,000 were forwarded to tho Maori Creek hatchery for tlie stocking of the Wnirnu River, 200,000 were sent to Tasmania, the remainder were hatched out and liberated in the Hakataramea River. Tho numbers of those fishing with rod and line for quinnnt salmon during the past season showed a considerable increase. This may have been duo to some extent to the lowness of the rivers, which reacted adversely <»' trout fishing, but quite apart from th' there is no doubt that quimiat salmon angling has become much more popular than was at first anticipated. During the late season the banks df Canterbury. rivers near their mouths were frequently thronged with people plying their rods. The Bangitata yielded the biggest catches, and it has been estimated that the number killed bv rod fishermen in this river exceeded 3000.

“The Wnimaknriri, being easily accessible from Christchurch, was most exploited, but did not apparently yield the best sport,” states the re- 1 port. “Failure to catch fish was ascribed,to the presence of net fishermen, and doubtless if the nets had not been, there some proportion of the 2515 fish taken by this method would have been captured by rod and line. The four nets operating on this river were the only nets fishing for quimiat in the whole Dominion. Three of these were fished by license holders, who were bona .fide professional fishermen. The fourth net was operated by employees of the Department in connection with a scheme of experimental netting, which was undertaken for the purpose of obtaining a representative sample of the quimiat run to provide data for biological study of the quinnat, and also in order that we might acquire a practical knowledge of fishery conditions. “As a result of these netting operations quimiat salmon were put on tlie market and were obtainable in shops at prices that ranged, according to supply, from Is (occasionally under this, price) to 2s a puond. In view of the fact that the original object of the Government in acclimatising this fish was for commercial purposes it is clear that anglers, who have been enjoying quite gratuitous benefits from this fishing, have no legitimate grounds, for complaint.”