PURCHASE OF RAINBOW TROUT OVA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22465, 28 July 1938, Page 17

PURCHASE OF RAINBOW TROUT OVA

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY DISCUSSION There was a sharp division of opinion whether the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society should reduce the number of rainbow trout ova to be acquired from the Department of Internal Affairs from 500,000, as recommended by the fish committee, to 250,000 when the matter was discussed at a meeting of the council of the society last evening. Mr J. F. Hutchinson contended that the finances of the did not justify the purchase of 500,000 ova and moved an amendment that the number be reduced to 250,000. The chairman of the fish committee (Mr A. G. Familton) said that if the rivers were not stocked the society would be in a worse financial position in a few years. Fishermen would not take out licences if there was no sport offering. Mr Hutchinson said that it would not be necessary to keep to the reduced number in future years. Nine members voted for the reduction and five, including the chairman, against it. These five asked that their votes be recorded. The committee’s report stated that the curtor, Mr W. H. Claringbold, had resigned as from July 8. The total number of brown trout ova collected to that date was 1,428,000. Notwithstanding the swollen and polluted state of the Halswell river, the ova had eyed satisfactorily, and 400,000 had been delivered up to July 20. It was proposed to continue deliveries at frequent, intervals, and in order to fulfil the orders for 3,000,000 received it was recommended that all available ova should be sold. This would also avoid the possibility of failure in hatching fry through the present unsuitable condition of the water supply, and provide finance for fish salvage later in the year.