All about a Flounder.

Manawatu Herald, 29 June 1893, Page 2

All about a Flounder.

A report has been laid before Parliament by Messrs Spackman and Clarke on the question of the minimum size at which flounders should be allowed to be taken. They have arrived at the opinion " that P no flounders should be taken either' in Lake Ellesmere or elsewhere under 10 inches in length, and that the size of the mesh of the nets used should not be less than 5 inches." They have also expressed their opinion that nets of whatever mesh should be hung on the square, and not pn the diagonal. They found that the fisheries are carried on, and fish sold practically without supervision.

Some interesting information was supplied at this enquiry. Ifc was shown that Lake Ellesmere is rapidly becoming depleted of flounders, from the use of small mesh nets and excessive fishing. There are twenty boats on the lake and each of these boats set nearly two miles of nets, so that allowing for some nets being mended or ashore for oleaning there are at least 20 miles set every day. It was shown that these boats caught about 48 dozen a day, but from the books it was shown the lake equalled nearly 17,000 flounders a week. The regulation size of the mesh is four inches and these caught fish from eight inches upwards. The Commissioners mention that •' With the exception of the so-called black floundej, the whole of the observed New Zealand flatfish come from the sea into the shore shallows and estuaries, enclosed harbours, bays, or mouths of rivers to the brackfish waters, for the purpose of depositing their spawn, or for changes of food, &c, at more or less regular periods of the year, usually the spring and summer months. When fresh run from the sea or caught in the sea itself they are much finer and better flavoured fish. After a short existence in the brackfish or fresh water the fish lose their condition and flavour, bf coming lank and lean. The black flounders reverse the order of affairs, living up the fresh water- rivers, and coming down to the salter waters in autumn

and winter. Great numbers of lagoons in New Zealand of very inconsiderable areas are compared with Lake Ello3mere have the same causes operating. When left in a state of nature their filling-up and bursfcing-oufc to sea depends on the changes of the seasons, and the openings thus made chiming in with seasonable migratory movements of the flatfish (whether caused by sexual or food motives), give them an opportunity of running in, as adult fish to counterbalance the loss of the small fish previously hatched in the periodically enclosed waters, which avail themselves of their opportunity to go out to sea, returning when mature in the ordinary course, thus Keeping up the natural supply and preventing depletion. What has happened in smaller enclosed waters too long retained is happening on a larger scale at Lake Ellesmere. Gradually the large parent fish have been cap t wed, and the catch has rapidly decreased. The mature size of the fish, from its altered condition of life, also decreases, prime operating causes being the almost fresh water it perforce has to inhabit, at a mean temperature of lOdeg. greater than the sea, and deficient supply of food. The evidence of the fishermen notably proves that the yellow-belly flounder is a much longer and thinner fish in proportion to its width when taken in Lake Ellesmere than the sea or estuary-caught fish of the same kind. Whilst it is universally acknowledged as having far less flavour, the so-called "threecorner" flounders found in the lake are now so permanently dwarfed, according to the fishermen, as to be recognised as not now worth catch ing, whilst the sea-fish of the same kind assumes almost the largest dimensions of flatfish caught. Seasonable opening of the lake, when the run of mature fish is on, from the sea will prove beneficial without doubt to subsequent supply of fish of a better quality and flavour.