“Black Bass Would Be Threat To N.Z. Trout”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29467, 20 March 1961, Page 16

“Black Bass Would Be Threat To N.Z. Trout”

(New Zealand Press Association)

NEW PLYMOUTH, March 19

The introduction of largemouth black bass into New Zealand would be highly undesirable because of the threat to the magnificent trout fishing the Dominion enjoys, according to an American biologist, Mr L. H. Garlick.

Mr Garlick told Mr P. Burstall, a Wildlife branch biologist who recently visited the United States to examine the possibilities of introducing other game fish to New Zealand rivers and lakes, that the project should be’ approached with great

caution “because of the dangers involved.”

Mr Garlick’s observations were based on many years of experience as a fisheries management biologist in the north-western United States. “The waters in the area are predominantly trout waters," he said. “Large-mouth black bass were introduced from the eastern United States. In very few cases we have excellent bass fishing and many of our lakes have been ruined for trout. “ In . fa ct, the states of Washington and Oregon have been forced to spend large sums to eradicate bass and other exotic fish in order to restore trout fishing,” he said. Bass could be expected to exist satisfactorily in trout waters, but they usually over-populated the area and produced stunted, useless fish Food fish were eliminated by the bass. Although certain waters in New Zealand might be successfully managed for black bass production, human activity often upsets the cong' 01 °f this fish,” said Mr Garhck. In many cases misguided black bass enthusiasts hav? transplanted the fish from Ideal waters to trout waters with disastrous results for the trout and no beneficial results for the bass." Mr Burstall. in his report, S ,„ 2 1 \ T American biologists New Zeala ’)d should stocks of ra ‘nbow trout from either Europe or D m s r! s? in to the Dominion Probably the only pure strains of rainbow trout in the world today were in New Zealand. The extensive mixing of rainbow trout stock overseas had resulted in diseased fish.

Nehru’s View Of Talks (N.Z P.A.-Reuter— Copyright) o LONDON. March 18. South Africa’s departure to° U th d e S c' e added strength too .Commonwealth, said (Mr I M d ’h n , Prime Minister (Mr Nehru) yesterday. Dr ’„. Verwoerd’s decision was inevitable.” as was the Pfnne Minister’s discussion of the union’s apartheid policies. Mr Nehru told a press conference. The problem became so acute that it could not be ignored.’’ he said. He pointed out that it wa= easy to find fault in anv country. Other countries worked to eliminate them but in South Africa they were the declared policy of the Government.

Car Converted.— A light blue Morris Minor, number 542-778, was taken from Salisbury street on Saturday night.