17lb Rainbow Trout Bred At University

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31329, 28 March 1967, Page 12

17lb Rainbow Trout Bred At University

“The Press” Special Service

AUCKLAND, March 27.

A two-year-old rainbow trout weighing nearly 171 b which has laid enough eggs to produce more than six tons of fish inside a year has been reared in a research programme at the University of Washington, Seattle.

Professor L. R. Donaldson, professor of fisheries at the university, said in Auckland that the fish, known as a Donaldson trout, was probably the most productive animal in the world. “It took 37 years to breed rainbow trout like this.” he said. “Basically, the techniques are the same as those used in agriculture—selective breeding, controlled environment and nutrition.” Professor Donaldson’s work has been so successful that some of his fish are laying up to 19,000 eggs, and the growth rate in the first year has increased considerably. “We reject any fish that do not weigh at least 101 b after two years,” said Professor Donaldson. “After three years, they should weigh between 15 ahd 201 b.” At his laboratory on the university campus, the professor and his staff have ample research equipment. Their breeding pond produces over four million young salmon every year and they

have recently introduced a new hybrid by crossing rainbow trout with sea-run steelheads. “We can virtually breed as many fish as we like,” he said. “Sometimes we have so many that we don’t know : what to do with them all.” Through former students, i his project is being duplicat- ! ed in several countries, including Japan, Norway and Iceland. On New Zealand trout fishi ing, Professor Donaldson said ! that while the natural growth ! rate of trout in this country ■ was unique there was still room for improvement. > “New Zealand fisheries have • not reached their full potenr tial yet,” he said. “Conditions ; in the North Island lakes and - streams have improved tremendously in the last 10 i years but it is still in its - infancy. J “By applying the basic • techniques that we have been -■using in America, your fishing ? could probably benefit in the f same way.”