TROUT BREEDING ON THE PAEROA ESTATE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1798, 15 January 1884, Page 2

TROUT BREEDING ON THE PAERO A ESTATE.

Nor many days ago we had the pleasure of recording the success which attended the efforts of Mr Gelling, of Hamilton, and Mr Jno. Douglas., of Bruntwood, in respect to the hatching out of trout ova distributed by the Acclimatisation Society, and the stock, ing of the Mangaone creek in the Tatnahere district. Though the opeiation, so far as Mr Douglas was concerned, was confined to GO of the young members of the finny tribe ; still, the fact that a small number had been treated successfully, demonstrated conclusively that in the event of the operation being undertaken on a more extensive scale, it was but reasonable to surmise a like measure of success would be experienced. And this, we are glad to notice, has been the case. About eighteen months ago Mr Geoffrey Maclean, of Paeroa, received the large instalment of 3000 ova. from the Acclimatisation Society, and though the encouragement in regard to the ' defraying of the expenses of the undertakheld out by the society was infinitely small, still he willingly undertook the task, and at a considerable sacrifice of time, and with much perseverance, has now succeeded in stocking the principal creeks of the Paeroa, Horahora, and Okoroire districts with speckled English brown trout. Out of a possible 3000, Mr Maclean has succeeded in hatching 2500 fish— a proportion rarely, if ever previously attained in the province. These have been distributed as follows :— In the Orakau creek, running through the Okoroire property, 1000 fish ; in the Waipa creek, running through the Patetere conn- 1 try, 500 ; and in the Mangakara creek, 1 running through the Horahora block, the residue. In the latter creek a small pond or dam has been constructed, wherein a number of the fish, which now average from between six to eight inches in length, have been detained, in order to afford an opportunity of again breeding from them. A visit to the fish-house on the Paeroa estate _ well repays inspection, and those interested in the praiseworthy pursuit of stocking our creeks with fish not indigenous to the colony and who feel inclined to assist in the work, would there receive a few useful lessons in the art of successfully hatching out. The success achieved by Mr Maclean may, in a great measure, be attributed to the considerate manner in which the process was carried on, and the improved and original principles used. Of the latter we might particularise the hatchingout troughs, which, instead of receiving the water one from the other, are supplied simultaneously and independently of each other, thus avoiding the possibility of transmitting germs of disease which may originate in one trough, to the others. Ths distributing of the fish was a task of much difficulty, and. not altogether an inexpen- . sive one. In deporting from the fish -house to the Orakau Creek, at Oxford, a distance of nearly ten miles, tanks containing the fish were placed on a dray, and bo arranged that a constant supply of water was kept flowing in at one end and out at the other, > as by keeping the water perfectly still the I inmates of the tank wauld not, in allproba-* 1 bility survive the journey. Though undertakings of this kind are' decidedly more patriotic than profitable, it would not at all be unbecoming in settlers who have got the time and facilities at their disposal, to > take apart in this very deserving work. It would be an exceeding great pity if this feature of European settlement and advancement should, at this earlystage, be neglected. To make the effort successful, combination and perseverance are required, and. where these nro wanting