QUINNAT SALMON

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1929, Page 7

QUINNAT SALMON

INCREASE NOT AS GREAT AS WAS HOPED CHRISTCHURCH, April 29. The absence of the regular run of quinnat salmon in the rivers this year presents a problem which next season may help to solve. In America a fourvearlv cycle has been observed'; this is norroximately- the , period which the fish take to reach maturity. It lias been noticed that the fish increase in numbers year after year till they reach a maximum, after which comes a period of decline. This refers pr'ncipally tv (ho sockcye salmon, which are the variety most used for tinning. They are also called the red salmon on ac count of their flesh, or the b'ue-back salmon. The quinnat, however, are the h’rgest and the host of the Pacific salmon, and are not dissimilar in their habits. The sockeye salmon have no’ become generally established in New Zealand, though they were introduced into Lake Oban, where they are becoming smaller in size and are showing proof that they intend to take tr the sea,as they do in their native waters. The ipajority of quinnat salmon that come up the rivers are four yeai olds ,and some as young as two o three years. This is the explanation offered of the four-yearly cycle which is found in America and to which the fish are probably reverting in New Zealand. The Waimejkarii'i had the run of all the Canterbury rivers this year, and the Rnngitata the best. There the fish were larger though fewer in numbers than in previous years. The largest fish caught during the season was taken in the Rangitata, and weighed 471 b. At present the fish arc spawning far up the rivers, and though the season lasts till .May 15, only a feu late running fish will be taken at the mouth. Generally speaking, the run lias been a very poor one this year. The Government hoped when the fish were first introduced that it would he possible to start canneries for local consumption. It appears unlikely nov that the fish will ever be found i r ' sufficient numbers in New Zealand They are confined principally to the Canterbury snow rivers, which ar< much smaller than the Eraser, Sera mento and the Columbia of the Pacific Coast. Though the fish were in troduced 20 to 25 years ago, and have been fished' since 1923, there is no sign of a rapid increase. They are helped by artificial hatching in the Govern ment hatcheries at Hukataramea, bu J even so it is found that anglers are taking sufficient toll without the net ting that is used wlicr tie fi-li a<canned. Of the five varieties of Paci tic salmon, the quinnat is the largest •>nd best, hut it still remains to he seen whether they ave thoroughly es tnblished in New Zealand, 'they seem to show a perference for the big snow rivers, and avoid rain rivers like the Ashley. It may be possible to establish them on the West Coast, though tne rapid fall and swift current off the West Coast rivers, make ascent difficult for the fish.