Acclimatisation.

Bruce Herald, Volume VII, Issue 653, 27 November 1874, Page 6

Acclimatisation.

+ — Trout-hatching, writes the Arrow correspondent of the ' Times,' has been a most unequivocal success in this district. Early in September last Mr Alexander Innes, Mayor of Arr^wtown, at the representation of Mr Cope (Avho had been on a visit to Dunedin) that a parcel of trout ova might be procured from the Acclimatisation Society, at once telegraphed that a supply might be forwarded, which was done, and on the 19th of the same month a box containing five hundred ova was received in excellent condition, only three of the number being found dead. This success was not only due to the careful manner in which the box was packed, but to the care taken by Messrs Devine and Nettleford, Cobb and Co.'s drivers between this and Clyde, who at every possible opportunity cooled the ova Avith clear running water, the same care also being exercised by Mr Parsons, of Messrs Ord and Parsons, who own the line of coaches between this and the Clyde. The process of hatching was a very simple on«, and possibly the real cause of the success, as not one single fish either hatched or during the process of hatching Has died, and when it is taken into account that 100 fish is amply sufficient to stock a very large stream, Hayes Creek and Hayes Lake should soon be a favorite locality or the deciples of "Old Isaac Walton," while a few of the newly-introduced, but welcomejlittle strangers, might with advantage be turned adrift into the head waters of the Arrow Pviver and Shotover branches. The modus operandi of the hatching process was strictly in accordance with the verbal instructions of Mr Murison to Mr Cope, which were, if situation favored, to distribute the ova on a thin layer of well washed gravel, laid over the bottom of a box, and so placed in a slow running stream that the water could readily pass through the box. Messrs Innes, Mr Jones, and the Messrs Butel, of the Arrow Flour Mills, undertook the task of hatching, and fitting up a disused shoe trunk for the purpose, by inserting a piece of smat wire at either end, also fixing a lid to keep the box dark, as well as to prevent any injury to the ova from prying strangers. The box was accordingly placed in Messrs Butel's mill race, where the fish hatched readily. As soon as the young trout became properly developed a number of irregularly flattened atones were placed in the box, under the shelter of which the young fish apparently delighted, and where they managed to work themselves to, although encumbered with the umbilical sac, which they retained for about a month. Being rid of this they disported themselves about the hatching- box vigorously, appa rently enjoying their newly-found existence. From this stage they Avere fed regularly with a small quantity of liver dried and powdered. The young fish would also rise and secure minute insects that fell upon the water. About a week since, about one hundred of the young fish were placed in a small pond prepared for the purpose, and are doing well. As many more were liberated in Hayes Creek. The rest remain in the breeding-box for distribution elsewhere* The fish in the box up to the present time appear to thrive better than their fellows ii the pond — that \a, so far as growth aa concerned; nevertheless they are all equally healthy.