AIR DROP OF TROUT FRY

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28399, 4 October 1957, Page 11

AIR DROP OF TROUT FRY

First In South Island

(New Zealand Press Association) GREYMOUTH, October 2. The first air drop of trout fryin the South Island is to take place on the West Coast. The Marine Department has planned a liberation of young trout in Lake Paringa and an aeroplane will be used to .transport and liberate the young fish. The first such air drop took place recently in the Rotorua area and was reported to be highlv successful, with a large proportion of the trout fry surviving the drop.

The fry for Lake Paringa are tn be transported from the hatcheries at Queenstown. They are now ready and if weather conditions are favourable the flight and air drop will be made at the weekend, under the supervision of Marine Department officers. The aeroplane to be used is being equipped with a special type of water-tight hopper, for the conveyance of the little fish. A narcotic drug will be placed in the water to tranouillise the fry during the flight, by controlling their intake of oxygen. The plane will fly direct from Queenstown to Lake Paringa and it is intended to drop the fish on the arm of the lake near the month of Windbag creek. It is expected that the young fish will make for thi? creek to spend the early part of their lives. Most of the fry will be rainbow trout. Lake Paringa already carries a considerable number of brown trout and has proved a popular area with anglers.