H.—ls

The table below shows the fishing results as given by licensees' returns : —

The total legally saleable catch is the lowest on record. Nevertheless, the average catch per rod of 1301b. of salmon is somewhat higher than the 1944 season's average of 1271b. for eleven rods. Except in the Opihi, where five fish were caught by one licensee in February, not a fish was taken earlier than 6th March, which is when the salmon runs normally have passed their peak. All the fish netted in the Waimakariri were taken after 7th March. An observant angler who has fished the Rangitata since 1914 considers this year's failure to be due to a great extent to the effects of the damage done by a bad flood which occurred four years ago and " washed out all the salmon spawn-beds." From the incidence of a " perfect spawning season " the following year he forecasts a good salmon season for 1946. Atlantic Salmon The trap, located at the usual site in the Upukerora River, was completed on 24th April, and 9 salmon were taken by the end of the month. The subsequent captures for hatchery purposes for the months of May to August inclusive were 65, 137, 25, and 11 respectively, giving a total of 247 (115 males and 132 females), from which 299,250 ova were stripped. The majority of the fry hatched were liberated in the Upukerora River, 50,000 being put into Henry Creek, a smaller tributary stream of Lake Te Anau. Pond-reared fish numbering 7,149 were liberated as yearlings in the shallow bay of the lake adjacent to the hatchery. Angling results have been poor for the 1944-45 fishing season. Heavy rainfall and a continuously high river prevented successful angling in the Waiau River between the two lakes, and the lake fishing was not so good as usual. Fresh-water Research As mentioned in the report for last year, the absence in the Armed Forces of the two biologists has compelled a cessation of the investigations that were in train. The intensive study of the trout population of the Horokiwi River undertaken by Mr. K. R. Allen had been carried to the completion of its first stage. The comprehensive ecological observations, carried out over a two-year period to give a complete picture of the existing conditions, were intended to be followed by an experimental phase designed to indicate, and measure, the effects of artificial aids for augmenting the trout stock. The interim report on this work, which he had made with a view to its publication as an Appendix to the annual report on fisheries for the year 1941-42, could not be printed owing to the shortage of paper prevailing at the time, A brief account of the investigation is given in that annual report., but this

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Males. Females. ®°. x no ' Totals given. Returns from Rods Ashburton River, 14/3/45 to 21/3/45 (one rod) — Number of fish caught .. .. .. .. 1 2 3 Total weight 18 lb. 37 lb. .. 55 lb. Average weight .. .. . • • ■ 18 lb. 18*5 lb. 18*33 lb. Rangitata River, 24/3/45 to 4/4/45 (one rod) — Number of fish caught .. .. .. .. 4 .. .. 4 Total weight .. .. .. .. .. 79 lb. .. .. 79 lb. Average weight .. .. .. 19-75 lb. .. .. 19-75 lb. Rakaia River, 6/3/45 to 29/4/45 (three rods) — Number of fish caught .. .. .. .. 11 8 7 26 Total weight .... .. .. .. 166 lb. 148 lb. 119 lb. 433 lb. Average weight .. .. .. .. 15*09 lb. 18*5 lb. 17 lb. 16*65 lb. Opihi River, 6/2/45 to 28/3/45 (two rods) — Number of fish caught .. .. .. .. .. 22 22 Total weight .. .. . • 347 lb. 347 lb. Average weight .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 • 8 lb. 15 * 8 lb. Combined rivers, 6/2/45 to 29/4/45 (seven rods) — Number of fish caught .. .. .. 16 10 29 55 Total weight .. 263 lb. 185 lb. 466 lb. 914 lb. Average weight .. .. .. • • 16*4 lb. 18*5 lb. 16*06 lb. 16*6 lb. Returns from Nets Waimakariri River, 8/3/45 to 29/3/45 (one net)— Number of fish caught .. .. .. .. 12 6 18 Total weight .. .. .. . . .. 138 lb. 87 lb. .. 225 lb. Average weight .. .. .. ..11*5 lb. 14*5 lb. .. 12*5 lb.