H—22

F. Southern Lakes Acclimatization District (1) The 1949-50 Fishing Season Fishing throughout the season was good in spite of the unsettled weather conditions. This was specially so in the case of the Clutha, Hawea, and Makarora Rivers where good-conditioned fish were caught right up to the close of the season. The improvement in the size and condition of fish taken continues, and it is evident that results are now accruing from the heavy restocking of district waters which was commenced when the Department assumed control of the district and is still being carried out. In all, for the 1948-49 season, 1,300 licences were sold. An analysis of sales was made according to the angler's address given on the licence. The five districts showing the highest figures were (North Island figures are shown as one unit): — Otago .. .. .. .. .. .. 456 Southern Lakes .. .. .. .. .. 247 Southland . . .. .. .. .. 389 North Island districts . . .. .. 63 North Canterbury . . .. .. 56 Westland . . .. .. .. 28 (2) Fisheries Conservation (а) Fish Salvage.—Owing to the wet season no rivers dried up, but owing to a change of course in the Lindis River it was necessary to salvage 1,800 fish. These were reliberated in the Clutha and Hawea Rivers. One thousand fish salvaged during the artificial straightening of the course of the creek flowing into Lake Hayes, were reliberated in the new channel of that creek. (б) Hatchery Operations. —The hatchery at Lake Hayes commenced operations on the 29th April, 1949. A total of 2,373,000 brown-trout ova was collected and disposed of as follows : 720,000 to the Federation of West Coast (North Island) Acclimatization Societies. 375,000 to the Wellington Acclimatization Society. 500,000 to the Department's Rotorua Acclimatization District. 100,000 to the Hawke's Bay Acclimatization Society. 185,000 to the Otago Acclimatization Society. 493,000 were laid down for complete incubation at the Wanaka Hatchery. From the Department's hatchery in the Taupo district a total of 1,435,000 rainbowtrout ova was received and these were distributed as follows : Te Anau Hatchery .. .. .. .. .. 600,000 Wanaka Hatchery .. .. .. .. .. 835,000 (c) Restocking of Waters. —Liberations of fry were made as follows :

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Waters. Rainbow. Brown. Totals. Lake Hawea system ! 189,000 189,000 Lake Wanaka system 251,000 262,000 513,000 Lake Wakatipu system 571,000 11,000 582,000 Lake Te Anau system 265,000 265,000 Grand totals 1,276,000 273,000 1,549,000