FISH RESEARCH

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22110, 4 June 1937, Page 8

FISH RESEARCH

ACHIEVEMENTS OF COMMITTEE WORK HANDED OVER TO GOVERNMENT ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETIES GIVEN CREDIT "The New Zealand Freshwater Research Committee may go out of existence, knowing that knowledge has been obtained and understanding gained about a variety of matters which eight years ago were nebulous, and that a mass of raw fact is collected which may be of use to its successors." This statement was made in a resume of the work of the committee presented by its honorary director, Professor E. Percival, at yesterday's meeting when the committee formally handed over its functions to the Marine Department. The study of natural regeneration of brown and rainbow trout and of quinnat salmon, undertaken by Mr D. F. Hobbs, field biologist to the committee, was mentioned by Professor Percival as the most important contribution to research made through the committee. It had opened up possibilities of fishery management which had not appeared before. Without the initiative taken by the acclimatisation societies, in particular those in Wellington and Canterbury, the work of fish research might never have been begun in the Dominion, said Mr A. E. Hefford, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, who presided at the meeting. The acclimatisation societies had started machinery for fish research before the Government had thought of it, said Mr Hefford, referring to the original setting up of the committee. Recommendations Made Dr. G. F. V. Anson said that there might have been some surprise that there had been no "squeal" when the work of research was taken over by the Government. That there had been no protest was entirely a testimony to the confidence of anglers throughout the country in Mr Hefford, who was still to be in charge of the work The committee made the following recommendations to the new research authority:— "That this committee considers the continuing of the investigation work on the natural reproduction of salmon and trout, and on subsequent survival, to be of fundamental importance, and recommends that this should be continued as one of the principal lines of research. "That it be a recommendation to the executive of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies' Association that it should act in future as the link between anglers and the Marine Department. "That as far as possible grants in aid should be made to suitable persons to carry out special investigations. "That there be a continuation of the studies of plankton, general and special, and of aquatic fauna. "That the survey of age and growth of salmon and trout stocks should be continued." Grants For Special Work Mr Hefford said that he was very anxious that the department should adopt the practice of giving grants in aid, and of recruiting outside agents for special work such as that of Professor Percival. He hoped that sufficient would be available out of the research funds to enable Professor Percival's work to be continued, or > perhaps extended. Appreciation was expressed of the work of the staff biologists (Messrs D. F. Hobbs and A. W. Parrott), and a resolution was passed placing this on record. Resolutions expressing gratitude to Professor Percival, honorary director of research, and to Mr Hefford as chairman, were also passed. There were present:—Messrs Hefford, M. H. Godby, E. J. C. Wiffln, G. W. Howes, Dr. Anson, Professor Percival, and Messrs Hobbs and Parrott as members of the staff.