Dannevirke Advocate [PUBLISHED DAILY.] OLDEST ESTABLISHED PAPER AND GUARANTEED LARGEST CIRCULATION IN THE DISTRICT. MONDAY, APRIL 28. SALMON AND TROUT.

Bush Advocate, Volume XIV, Issue 24, 28 April 1902, Page 2

Dannevirke Advocate [PUBLISHED DAILY.] OLDEST ESTABLISHED PAPER AND GUARANTEED LARGEST CIRCULATION IN THE DISTRICT. MONDAY, APRIL 28. SALMON AND TROUT.

The introduction o» salmon into New Zealand, it would seem, is not likely to prove an unmixed blessing to this colony, and already a warning note has been uttered by tbe London Daily Telegraph. That journal expresses the opinion that the introduction of salmon into New Znaland will result in the rivers being depleted of trout, .and in this connection says : — "We doubt very much whether th« Government of the colony are wise in tryiug i to stock their rivers with salmon, for the simple reason that trout have been such an/ extraordinary success in New Zealand rivora that matters are hardly likely to be* improved by the introduction of salmon. Many New Zealand waters teem with trout. Fish of from :slb to 81b are thought uo thing of, and 15-poimders «re fairly common, while speoiuieus have been caught far exceeding that weight. Not only has the English brown trout thriven, but so also has tbe rainbow trout, which, in this colony, has proved au extraordinary sucocss. For trout to thrive xv this extraordinary manner they, of ooarsp, require all the food that the stream oan provide for them naturally. Should the rivers get stocked with salmon, they will swarm with samlets and smalts, which will almost certainly dear off the food, and the trout will go begging, and New Zealand may find itself with second or third rate salmon fisheries .id place of the finest trout fishing in the world. As it is, many of these trout migrate down to the sea, and some of the finest are caught actually iv tha surf 'at the month of some of the large rivers. Our New Zealand friend* should at least consider the policy of leaving well aloni|£ There are not many salmon rivers of importanoe in Great Britain which produce fine trout." If the contention of the Telegraph is correct ifc would be veil for acclimatisation societies to thoroughly enquire into the possibility of salmon seriously affecting the trout which already abound in tbe majority of streams «f this colony. The New Zealand rivers have been stocked with trout at considerable expense, trouble, and after many years' attention, and it would be a calamity tp undo the good work of the past un.ier a mistaken belief that a benefit is likely bo accrue to tbe colony by the introduction of aaloicß.