RAINBOW TROUT

Southland Times, Issue 18822, 15 May 1920, Page 6

RAINBOW TROUT

LIBERATION IN SOUTHLAND,

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY’S DECISION.

At the monthly meeting of the Southland Acclimatisation Society' held last night at which Mr A. H. Stock presided, the notice of motion given by Mr E. Russell, that the Society take steps to procure rainbow trout ova for liberation in suitable lakes was considered. Letters were received from the Gore members stating that the introduction of rainbow trout would have to be carefully handled on account of the voracious nature of the rainbow. Mr Russell, in moving the motion, stated that in his opinion the brown trout was not to be compared with the rainbow for sport. Despite the warnings expressed by the Gore members, while on his northern tour he had taken brown trout from the same stream as the rainbow, and when the sport of taking the rainbow was considered the brown trout was not to be compared with it. Angling had deteriorated in Southland, and that was greatly attributable to the brown trout having developed, into a night feeder. An old sportsman in the north was emphatic in his assertion that the rainbow was the better fish. So far as could he ascertained the rainbow had not eliminated the brown With good rainbow fishing they would attract more sportsmen, and the only thing that would have to be considered with tiro introduction of rainbow was their effect upon the work of the Society in acclimatising salmon. He recommended that the fry be liberated in a suitable lake or lakes. The chairman said that he was of the opinion that the introduction of the rainbow would not ufiect the acclimatisation of the salmon, as the latter fish did most of its feeding in the sen. The fry of the salmon also went to the sea early. The motion was carried unanimously. It was further resolved to endeavour to obtain ova from northern societies, and also to secure some from America through the Minister of Internal Affairs. Before deciding upon the places of liberation it was tlecided to obtain expert information from Canada as to whether the liberation of the rainbow trout would interfere with the acclimatisation of the Atlantic salmon.