BIG TROUT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 220, 17 March 1914, Page 3

BIG TROUT.

THIXXINC OIT TIIK LAKHS. i TONS OF FISH DISPOSED OF. Speaking on the' subject to a Wellington Post representative recently, the Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs stated that sjnee December Ist approximately four/tons of fresh and smoked trout had been placed upon the local market, and when they considered the distance the fish had to brought and the difficulties in the way of transport, the quantity delivered and disposed of to date must be considered satisfactory _ The object of the Department, he added, I was to reduce the number of fish in the lakes in the thermal regions, the food supply having become insufficient, and the sale of the fish was carried out mainly to avoid the waste which would result if the surplus fish were destroyed, and he was glad to say that the catches of fish, which were finding ready sale in various parts of the Dominion, would, with the private catches on the Lakes, go a long way towards an appreciable reduction of the number of trout in those lakes.

In regard to Taupo, the moduß operandi was for the Departmental launch to bring in each morning to Toka&nu the fish netted during the night, and for as much fresh fish to be forwarded by that morning's coast to Waiouru as the limited accommodation on the coach would allow, the balance of the fish being reserved for smoking. Upon arrival at Waiouru in the evening, the fish for Wellington was placed on the express train, and arrived in the City at 6.50 in the morning. It was immediately taken delivery of here, and at once placed on the market. Botn the fresh and smoked fish are obtainable at the Municipal Fish Market, while smoked fish is also on sale by several leading business firms in town. Even with the long journey, the trout reach the market in first-class condition, and the demand has shown that the public realises it is a palatable change in their fish diet. Indeed those who have tasted the fish speak in the highest terms of its good quality. I Speaking of the Inland Fisheries generally, the Under-Secretary Btated that good work has been done since the beginning of the season in reducing the number of surplus fish in Lake Rotorua. To date approximately 41 tons of fish have been taken from that lake. On liis recent visit to Rotorua the ,Minister (Hon. H. D. Bell) agreed, on the representations of the Rod and Sun Clubs, to have the mouths of the streams running into Lake Rotorua cleared of' weeds for the convenience of anglers, and this work is now being done. The question also of the best method of dealing with the growth of weeds in the streams themselves as well as in the Ohau Channel is under the consideration of the Minister

In addition the food supply of the trout is being attended to. Within the last few weeks large quantities of shrimps have been placed in Lake Rotoriia, and further supplies are being placed in Lake Taupo. When it is remembered that the shrimps have to be caught in the W-aikato river at Mercer, and despatched by train to Rotorua, and thence by trap to Taupo, it will be recognised that considerable care has to be exercised in order to take fish safely through to Taupo. He was, however, glad to say that he had received a telegram advising that the first consignment had reached Taupo on Wednesday last all well and in good condition.