RAINBOW TROUT CONDEMNED.

Shannon News, 9 January 1923, Page 4

RAINBOW TROUT CONDEMNED.

Arising out of a letter from the Government Ranger at Rotorua regarding .the tagging of trout, a discussion arose at the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society meeting recently, in which uncomplimentary remarks w-ere made regarding the rainbow- trout which inhabit the many lakes outback. W. Coblediclt, Government Tourist Ranger, Rotorua, w-rote with respect to tagging rainbow trout for the purpose of extending knowledge of the habits of the fish, and asked for suggestions as to the best type of tag the society had used.

It was decided to fonvard a sample of the type used previously to that w-hieh the society now has.

It w-as suggested by Dr. M. Anderson that the society also mark rainbow trout.

Mr E. F. Stead »agreed that some should be tagged, and he expressed the opinion that the rainbow was not suitable for this district (says the Christchurch Sun). He quoted experiences^ at the lakes to support his statement. The

fish did not seem to recover after

spawning, and the virgin fish w r eie the ! only good ones. He was very sorry the I society had ever turned them out. |le | would like to sec a good series of scales taken to sec if any had recovered from | spawning. If they did not, the society I should do as is done in the American

lakes—replace w-ith quinnat. Dr. Anderson suggested that marked fish should be put in the Rakaia to trace their migrations.

The chairman, Mr M. 11. Godby, agreed that the idea of marking rainbow r s was a good one, but it w-as a question as to hoW it could be done.

It was finally decided that Dr. Anderson and Mr D. Hope consider the question of tagging, and submit a icport.