HAMILTON DOMAIN BOARD

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2102, 29 December 1885, Page 3

HAMILTON DOMAIN BOARD

The ordinary meeting of tlio Hamilton Duniain Board was held on Monday night, Present : Mr W. A. Uraham (Mayor), in the Chair. Messrs Scott, Tippen, Dcy and Philip Mr J. Coomhos wrote asking that his dimrii'Bftl as caretaker for Sydney Hquaie, should bo re-considered. There wan no action taken in the matter and the letter was ordered to be received. The report of the secretary was read and adopted a.«r follows :—: — Hamilton, 21st December, 188.*). The Hamilton Domain Hoard. Gentlemen, — I am glad t<> report that the pisciculture undertaking of the board is progressing very favoni.ibly. Sevoi.il b.itcbew of young <v h.ivo beon liberated recently, and a largo quantity has been kept for rearing to a inoro mature age. These latter ate in the large float anchored in the river under a willow clump, and they are doing remarkably well, having cool shade and plenty of room and well fort, they have grown rapidly. The float ih 12 feet long, 4 feet broad, and three foet deep, the ends being pcrfoiated to admit and discharge the river water, shingles, stones, turf, *od«, &c, wer the bottom, giving a natural bed, while fresh water weeds are ■trewn upon the water for green food and cleansing purposes, the float is buoyed up with oil cam* and covered with wire netting to protect the young fish from shags, kingfishers, Ac. They are fed three times a day upon hard boiled eggs aijd bi>iled liver, and the float being deep very little of the food in wanted, the tish lecuring it while descending to the bottom, which if reached the food is lost. When the trout are •bout 6 inches long they will bo ready for distribution, which win be about March next. Although tho Lite hot weather has been trying to the young trout confined .is they are with the thermometer standing in the witter at 70 degrees every day they are very healthy and nhow no ugns or any aicknevs setting in. Sacks k p pt well wetted diminiah the risk from the heat. Mr Pillani, of Btilclutba, i* astonished at our being able to rear them iv such close quartan at Tich a temperature Next gw perhap* oviu better arrangements and

more accommodation may be made and luigei numbers may be ventured. I i egret to say that the large supply (100,000) of perch ova, kindly forwarded by Mi A. H. Shury and Mr Farr from Christchurch, but del wed so long on the road, f.nled to h \tch out, although eveiv can* and attention was paid. Tlicy pututied, and had tn be thrown a-vay, but Mes-is Shiny and Tan promised that if we weie not successful with the ova they would send about 100 peich fii>m .") to 7 inches long, so that when the season is favourable I will make arrangements for obtaining them and being tended on tho way. Last mouth I visited one of the streams in which two large hatches of trout were liberated, and the settlers who promised to watch and protect them informed mo they aie often seen, and aie doing splendidly. The largest are over a foot long, veiy shapely and beautifully uiatkcd, and quite a ticat to behold. One fanner was cleaning or lrpaning a dam, ttlion he saw a laige number of fine trout. I was glad to find the people tefened to are fully alne to the advantage to be demed from a little trouble bestowed upon watching and piotectmg them. On Satmday last Mr Vinson on another creek (the flour null creek) infouned me his boys caught two fine trout, one of which they wisely ieturned to the water, but the other had to be killed to extucate the eel hook. This weighed one pound, and was a beauty. They had never tasted so fine a fish befoie, they said. A large amount of American cat-fish have now been introduced into the Waikato lakes a "d next yeai mom can be obtained, thanks to the tiouble and kindness of Mr T. B. Hill, of Auckland. As many persons have doubted tho wisdom of acclimatising these fish, and the members of the b-iard have raised the question, I may state that Mr Livingston Stone, Fi-h Commmioner, says in his report :—" The Ameucan cat fish indigenous to the American lakes aie of gieat economic value and 1 recommend their introduction to English water-, where they would soon assume a high rank amongst Eugh-h ftesh water hsh. They possess a peculiar immunity from small bones, and are fully recognised as a luuiriou-idietin America.' 1 Such authority ought t» be quite sufficient to interest the Waikato people in the acclimatisation of this fish, if confined to the lakes only. MrW. C. Johnson of Trouldale farm Chmtihmch. an eminent pisieulturist has taken a deal of pains in getting the Govern uient to allow him the use of the Hmemoa to convey a large number there lately, and has been successful. With ieg,»d to the Murray cod all attempts last season were unsuccessful in obtaining any assistance in their introduction, but foitunately Mr \V. A. Graham happened to mention the matter to a gentleman of his acquaintance, who at once referred him to two meinbeis of New South Wales Pailuinent who he said would readily gne e\ cry assistance to the board, being well known pisicnltunsts and always ready to help others in such matters. Communication will therefore be made vv ith the hopeof yet being able to obtain supplies fiom tune to tune. — I am, Gentlemen, your obedient servant,

J. M. Gelling, Secretary Domain Donrd. A few small accounts were passed for payment. The report of the committeee, viz. That no tenant of the Domain Board bo in future allowed to exceed the cunent half year, and tha-t this measure be rigidly adheied to, was adopted. Home very interesting coi respondence concerning pisicultuie was laid upon the table from Mr W. Y. PiUans, T. B. Hill and other-, for the board's information, tjonio routine business followed and the boaid rose.