Whitebait
Sir,—l was most interested in the article on whitebait migrations by Mr Burnet. His conclusions are practically the same as those reached by Professor Percival some 35 years ago. He did a survey of practically the whole of the Canterbury area in search of spawning-grounds. Professor Percival had ideas of fencing certain areas to protect them from wandering stock but funds were not available. I have sat in a row-boat on the bar at the mouth of the Ashley river with Professor Percival and Mr John Mullins and trapped the spawns as it returned to the sea- Our observations were that the eggs split on contact with pure salt water and from that stage the fish became mobile. I would be only too pleased to pass on to Mr Burnet Professor Percival’s theory as to the course followed by the whitebait after leaving the river mouths on the east coast of the South Island. — Yours, etc., PERCY L. McMILLAN.
Saltwater Creek, May 7, 1965.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30745, 8 May 1965, Page 14
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165Whitebait Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30745, 8 May 1965, Page 14
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