Salmon Breeding.

Manawatu Herald, 31 August 1899, Page 2

Salmon Breeding.

♦ Mr Ayeoo the Fishery Commisaiooer of this colony reports that hitherto efforts made to establish the Atlantic Salmon (Salmo ealar) the moat valuable fish in New Zealand rivers have been unsuccessful,, There are in this colony a considerable number of rivera where the natural conditions are unquestionably in every way favourable, and the reason why the fish do not return after their migration to the sea is & problem which every effort should be made to solve. I consulted a number of the most practical scientific men in Great Britain who have studied the life* habits of salmon, and gave them, in detail, a history of the afctemptu made in this direction daring the past twenty-five years. I also gave them a description of New Zealand rivers, and the temperature and conditions of the ocean around tho cosat (ao far as is known), and they all agree that predacious fish taking the smolts as they migrate into the estuaries and bays is one of the most likely causes of the non-ap-pearance of Atlantic salmon in the ' rivers ; and they are all in favour of rearing the fish in a fishery, with fresh and salt-water enclosures, to the breeding age before liberating. Mr Ayson says while undoubtedly that king of fish, the Atlantic salmon, is perhaps the finest; sporting fish in the world, still due regard must be had to the other fine varieties of salmon inhabiting the Pacific Ocean, wbo*e eoonomic value is very great. No true salmon feed in the rivenr, but ascend them purely for breeding purposes, and Ido not see how any barm could arise from attempting to acclimatise several different varieties, some of which may succeed although others may fail. Lirge quantities of of the ova of the Pacific salmon can be obtained from the United States Fisheries Commission and from the Canadian Government for the co&t of packing and transport, so that the total cost of landing, say, 1,000,000 ova from either Baird, Battle Creek,, or Fraser River would probably not amount to more than £100 The fact that these salmon inhabit a wide range of the Paoifio Ocean points to the probability that they might be established more readiiy on our coasts than the Atlantic variety. From the year 1876 to 1878 ova of the quinnat variety were landed in New Zealand, but were unfortunately, soattered about in small numbers, and in many oases were not put in the most suitable rivers. I think a further trial should be made with these varieties, more especially in view of the fact that apparently some fish caught in the, Waitaki River have been identified as belonging to the Paoifio salmon, or Uncorhynchus, fimily. The four varieties which I would recommend the importation of, are the quinnat salmon {Oncorhynchus ttehaivytseha), the sookeye or bluebacked salmon (0. nerka), and two smaller varieties — the hump-back (0. gorbwcha) and the Bilver ctf, Coho salmon (O. kiiutch). The following is a abort account of each of these varieties :— Quinnat or Chinook Salmon. (0. tachawytacha) : This is the most important variety, and no other salmon in the world compares with it in size. It has a wide geographical range, and great commercial value. It prefers largg rivers, and it is supposed it does not wander far from the coast, lfc runs immense distances .up the river 'to spawn, and would probably only suit our large rivers, such as the Waitaki, Clutha, or Buller. Though not a good sporting fish, except in tidal waters, where it will take bait, it is a magnificent fish for the table and for canning and preserving purposes. Blue-back or Sookeye (0. nerba) : This is a smallervariety of salmon, which frequents the Frasar Biver in immense numbers. It ranks next to

the qaionat. in commercial ? alup, its flesh being a rich red, very suitable for canning, the average weight it only about 51b. It has also a very wide geographical range in the Pacific Ocean. Hump-hock Salmon (0. gorbusch). This is a smaller variety of Pacific Salmon, and, as a rule, frequents the smaller rivers, and does not run any . great distance from the coast. The ova o| this variety would probably be difficult to get, but it is valuable fish. Silver or Coho Salmon (0. ki sntoh): This is a hardy variety, of graceful form and fairly good flesh. It has a wide geographical range, and does not ascend rivers any great distance from the ocean. i The last two smaller varieties are found on the Asiatio as well as on the American tout, and might probably ba easily established, in our water?.