SALMON FISHING.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14993, 13 June 1914, Page 12

SALMON FISHING.

OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WEST COAST.

PROPHETIC UTTFJXANCE BY FISHERY EXPERT.

' I do not see any reason in the world why, within a very few years, there should not bo established upon the rivers of the WestConst a very profitable salmon-fish-ing industry. The conditions of river and climate bear a great resemblance to the salmon rivers of the Pacific Coast, and once a proper system of acclimatisation is adopted, salmon-ifishing on a commercial scale might easily be established."

In these words Professor Prince last evening expressed to a "Press" reporter his belief in the possibilities of the West Coast rivers. "There is undoubtedly," he said, "a great field thero for the developments of commercial river-fishing. In my opinion, the Haast and other rivers on the coast so much resemble in their general conditions tho rivers of British Columbia, which swarm with salmon, that a proper system of acclimatisation would result in the establishment of the industry in this country. The prospects of wealth here are very great. British Columbia has only six or eight rivers which are fished for salmon, and yet those rivers give her an annual yield ot from £1,500,000 to £2,000,000, and employment to a very largo number of fishermen and packing hands. "That the salmon can bo acclimatised," continued tho Canadian expert, "has been proved by Mr. Ayson, of your Fishery Department. After many years of effort, he has established in these waters the 'quinnat,' a very fine Pacific salmon. For many successive years ho brought out ample supplies of spawn, and deposited them in the different 'New Zealand hatcheries, and liberated the young fish season after season in suitable localities. His success is beyond question, for in this very season there havo been secured, I suppose, 1,500,000 eggs from fish bred in New Zealand waters. This fact is a most important One, and Mr Ayson may be congratulated on having • succeeded not only in rearing the fish in New Zealand waters, but on being abie to rear fish produced from the spawn of acclimatised fish. What has been done with the 'quinnat' salmon, which is a fino sporting fish," added tho Professor, "can be done with the commercial salmon from British Columbia."

"There were two varieties of the commercial salmon," ho added. "One was the 'sockeye,' and the other was tho 'coho.' These were the best fish for tinning purposes, and he believed it should, be possible to establish both in tbe Westland rivers. Once established, the fish would multiply amazingly; everybody knew that the Fraser river was sometimes literally solid with fish moving up-stream. Ah important point to remember was that these fish did not feed in tho rivers, so that it was quite"possible to have the river stocked with game fish, as well. The salmon simply came in from the sea, attd went up the river to spawn, and then away again. "Salmon-fishing," concluded the Professor, "should certainly be established on the West Coast. Deep-sea fishing will probably remain a little backward there because of the stormy nature of the coast, and tbe somewhat limited markets available, but in her rivers the coast has -an enormous asset. The scenery and the splendid trout should make the rivers, even as they are, more 'and more attractive to Christchurch people,, and if salmon-fishing were introduced, the commercial prospects would be illimitable."