PORTOBELLO FISH HATCHERY

Otago Witness, Issue 4031, 16 June 1931, Page 49

PORTOBELLO FISH HATCHERY

VISIT BY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TRIBUTE TO MR G. M. THOMSON. A large number of members of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce and their friends took advantage of the invitation . issued by Mr G. M. Thomson, M.L.C., to visit the marine biological station at Portobello on Saturday afternoon. To those who had never before been to the hatchery, as well as to those who had, the visit provided a very interesting hour, the aquarium at the station and the various types of apparatus with which research work is carried out attracting the interested attention of the party. After the marine curiosities in the tanks had been inspected, and afternoon tea had been provided, Mr Thomson gave a short address on the history and purpose of the hatchery. The station, he stated, was opened in 1904, the original idea having come from the Government, whose aim had been the introduction of fish from the Old Country, and the carrying on of marine scientific work. A study of the life histories of various fish was also conducted, whilst the staff had reared and liberated 2.000,000 lobster- larvte. Other duties of the staff were to take samples of sea water every week and send them to the Government Analyst to be tested for salinity, winch determined the supplies of food for young fish, and to take the temperature of the sea every day. It was of interest to know, said Mr Thomson, that the sea water outside the Heads never fell below a temperature of 47 degrees Fahrenheit, but in the bay at the station the temperature at times fell as low as 40 degrees. Other studies included the feed of various species of fish. In this connection the Government a few years ago had offered Is per tail for dogfish, imagining that they preyed on smaller fish. The speaker wrote to the Government and informed it that out of several hundred dogfish caught and opened not one fish had been taken, proving that those fish did not live on smaller varieties, and by thus preventing the continuation of the payment of royalties for dogfish he was convinced he had saved the Government the cost of the station in one year. A good deal of time, inonev, and labour had been expended on tlie station. Its library included a large number of volumes, as well as over 3000 pamphlets dealing with fishing and biological subjects, so that research work could be carried out. Mr Thomson concluded bv expressing pleasure that members of the Chamber of Commerce had availed themselves of the opportunity of seeing the station, which was the only one of its kind in New Zealand.— (Applause.) The president of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr A. C. Cameron) stated that most of them knew Mr Thomson as the founder of and principal figure in connection with the marine biological station, but they might perhaps be unaware of his multifarious scientific interests. Mr Thomson had a splendid record as science master for a number of years at the Otago Boys’ High School, whilst he had also been in business as an analyst and scientific specialist He had been for many years secretary of the New Zealand aiid Australian Association of Science, patron of the Field Club, president of die Otago Institute, a member of the Board of Science and Arts. He was a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Tasmania, a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Edinburgh, he had been the founder of the Marine Fish Hatchery’ Board, and he was chairman of the Biological Board. His enthusiasm had heightened public interest in marine work generally, and had it not been for his work the Portobello Marine Hatchery might never have been established. All realised the tremendous value of the hatchery to students who desired to take advantage of the research work of others, and all would leave that afternoon with an increased interest in the work of the station. Mr Cameron extended the thanks of the party to Mr Thomson for his kindness in granting them that opportunity of visiting the hatchery.