WITH THE ROD.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1922, Page 6

WITH THE ROD.

TARANAKI ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY. OPERATIONS AT HATCHERIES. At a meeting of the council of the Taranaki Acclimatisation Society last night the following report was received from Mr. W. J. Bell regarding hatching operations for 1922 at the Pukekura Park hatcheries: “Ova received: Brown, 325,000; Rainbow. 106,000: 81.000 Rainbow from Rotorua; 100,000 Brown from North Canterbury; 175.000 Brown from Hakataramea; 50,000 Brown from Otago; 25.000 Rainbow from Otago; a total of 431,000. “All the ova were received in very good order and hatched out well, but owing to the lake that supplies the hatchery with water being cleaned out. the water during the first six weeks of hatching operations was very bad, , and to save the fry the society was obliged to liberate in the streams very soon after hatching. About 250,000 fry were liberated in this way, and as th? rivers during this winter have been in very favorable condition for the youns* fry (there being no floods at all) these fry should, do well. “As the season progressed the water greatly improved, and to make sure that, everything else was quite right the fry boxes were dressed inside with Swedish pitch, and the remainder of the fry were liberated in an older stage, the later lots being very strong and healthy indeed. To make sure that there would be no recurrence of the had water trouble. I think it advisable to have a pipe laid to the hatchery from the town supply. A one-inch pipe should be sufficient. “All the fry have now been liberated in the local streams, except 25,000 Rainbow. which are being grown a little larger to be placed in the electric light dam at Opunake. All the hatching boxes, trays and fry boxes (except those containing the 25,000 Rainbow) have been washed and dried, and the bitumen paint bavin? arrived, they will receive their annual dressing during next week. The thanks of the society are due to all members who assisted so willingly with the liberating and at the I hatchery during the season. Messrs. ' Bellringer Bros, have also donated a one-gallon tin of steelite paint for the roof of the hatchery. Fry were liberated as follows: — Brown trout fry.—25.000. Upper Waiwakaiho; 40.000, middle reaches Waiwakaiho: 40,000. Mangaoraka (Henwood Road); 25,000. Upper Waiwakaiho and Mangorei: 80.000. Oakura, Timaru. Katikara and Kaihi; 50.0000, Upper Waiongona; 15,000. Lower Waioneona: 15.000, Waiweranui and Warea: 20.000. Pungarere. Ohaihu and Oaonui; 15.000, Waiaua. Opunake. Total. 325.000. Rainbow fry.—Bl 000. Stony River at Okato: and 25,000 Rainbow fry are still at the hatchery to be grown a little larger for the electric light dam at Opunake. Total, 106.000. Grand total, 431.000. A special vote of thanks was passed to Messrs. Bell. H. Bowen and T. M ilson for their gratuitous work right through the hatching and liberating, these gentlemen having given their time daily for the past two months. Messrs. Bellringer Bros, were also accorded a vote of thanks for their donation of paint. A sub-committee consisting of the president (Mr. G. Grover) and Messrs. W. J. Bell and C. M. Hill was set up with power to. act to arrange for an auxiliary supply of water for the hatcheries from the town water supply.