ACCLIMATIZATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4169, 19 July 1892, Page 2

ACCLIMATIZATION.

The Mastortan Fish Hatcheries.

A visit was paid to the Mußterton hatcheries of the Wellington Acclimatization Society by our reporter yesterdaj. MrL.F.Aysqn, tho courteous curator, notwithstanding that ho had just finished a hard day's werk, was, as he is always wont to be, happy to impart what iuformation was at bis disposal concerning piscicultural matters, and in tbe space of n very few moments had adduced sufficient figures to show that the operations of the Society in this district had been attended with a degree of success which was- nothirjg lens than marvellous. Six years ego the ova collected in and around Alastei ton numbered only 20,000, and itwas considered necessary to procure a consignment from the South Island. This year the aggregate nutnberofova taken from thepondsand streams is in measurable distance of a million, and shipment from the Masterton hatcheries are being sent to all parts of tbe colonies. Although the spawning season is not quite finished, 725,000 brown trout", 111,000 fintimlis (or American brook trout), and 90,000 Loch Leven trout ova have been taken from the various streams anil ponds in the district. Last year the total was 580,000, so thut it will be seen that the increase is a remarkable one, The only trout which have hatched to date are the American brook, but for some unaccountable reason the percentage.of fishes is not as large as last year. The streams in the district are now alive with trout fry, and the Society therefore intends stocking up-country streams with this year's supply, /The process of stripping is an interesting one, and requires considerable care. Mr Ayson has found it necessary to take a number of trout from the streams to the ponds for ripening purposes, but he assures anglers that so soon as the stripping is completed they are returned from whence they came, Owing 'to the abnormal increase in tbe number of ova collected, it has been found necessary to construct several new hatching boxes, and the hatching sheds are now almost full, The results of the operations of the Society in the direction of breeding h'sh have exceeded the most sanguine expectations. Tbb I Society is tho youngest in the Colony, but, to the credit of its officers be it i said, its yearly output of trout is by I far the greatest. In the aviary department oxteusive ' improvements have been made during the last twelve months. There are ' now several' large runs in which ' dozens of healthy pheasants display 1 their attractive plumage, Thebreeding of plieaeunts last year was a great ! success, and a number of fine birds . are to bu liberated at tbe end of this , month, The laying season is about ' to commence, and it is hoped that in a few years game will be plentiful 1 .throughout the district.