PISCICULTURE IN WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2051, 29 August 1885, Page 3

PISCICULTURE IN WAIKATO.

Tiik secietaiy of the Hamilton Domain Board (Mr J. M. Gelling), writes as follows : — Sin,— As several of tho boards and others in the disii ict have subscribed tow aids in troduung fresh watei hsh into th« Waikato, and no doubt would like to heat wh.it is being done, I will, with your peimission, give you from time to tune any couespondence I may receive on the subject wmth publishing for geneial infoimatiou. I am sorry to say that up to the piesent time I have not succeeded in finding anyoi « in Australia offering to supply ova of the Mm ray cod, though from cnne*pondence I do not despaii, and L shall still continue the endeavours in that direction, but being a difficult mattci it tikes time. Mi Gelling is in receipt of the folouing interesting letter :—: — Manuka Island Station, Balclutha, 17th August 1885. ' Dkaii Sin,— l trust you will foigivc me foi being so long inansweiing your letter of the 21 July. When it amved it was tho middle of tho spawning season, and I had been very unsuccessful in obtaining ova up to that time, in consequence of the creek being so low that the parent fish could not get on to the spawning beds. I was in hopes that it would come to rain, and that I should obtain plenty, and be able then to write and tell you that I would be able and glad to send you some. I regret to say that these hopes have been disappointed. When the rain did come the fish did not make their appearance. I suppose they must have laid their eggs in the gravel beds in the PomShaka river, of which the creek is a tributary. I have only been able to get 4,000, where I whs in the habit of getting 00,000 to 80,000 without much trouble in former seasons*. You will sec bv this that it is quite out of my power to send you a box of ova from my own butchery, but I think I have sufficient influence ai a membei of the council of tho Otago Acclimatization Society to induce them to send yon, sty, a couple of thousand trout ova, if you will accept that number. I have written to the managpr, Mr F. Deans, and though I have not yrt received his leply I am suro you may safely send him your ich chest us I feel sure <>t being nblf to obtain them tor you fiom the society. I was very much pleased to receivft your letter as I am sure from it you must be a thorough enthiHast like myxelf, and I shall be delighted if at any time I can be of any use to you in advice regarding your operations. I have a number of the most ir.odern works on pisciculture, and any inform itum uliich I could not supply from my own pew »nal axpenenco, I might be able to tind out for you from

them. Our society li.xs now a number of salmon and btun-tiout fiy, :ind 1 .1111 to h;ne a few of each sent mo when they me old enough. Thc-e together with the Lochlev en trout und common brown trout (odhno farm) vhich I haveaheady got, will give me foin different vaueties of saltnonidra to uxpci uncut with in future yeaii I have now a pond of about 3 acies in extent and am going to tiy if I can induce the salmon (»almo sulai) to matin e their o\a without going to the sea. I hope if you ate ever in thi-> p.ut of the woild you will not fail to look me uu. I have- not a very great deal to show now, but tint little would, I hue »■> doubt, interest you very much.— l am, kv. W. S. Pimans