Salmon Experiment At Harewood

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31498, 12 October 1967, Page 14

Salmon Experiment At Harewood

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, October 11. The Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) this afternoon announced that the Government, has given approval to the Marine Department to introduce a new variety of quinnat salmon into New Zealand.

The fish will be released In a series of ponds at present being made in shingle quarries owned by the Isaac Construction Company, Ltd, at Harewood.

The Paparua County Council has approved in principle a request for a continuous water supply from the county’s race system to company’s land at Harewood in anticipation of the Company conducting experimental research and fish farming. Mr Scott said that the department would raise the new variety of salmon in the special ponds before releasing them to go to the sea. The variety of salmon has been developed in' the United States and grows quickly to a large size, maturing and becoming available to the angler in only three years. Mr Scott said this type of salmon appeared more suitable for New Zealand conditions than those which were established in the Canterbury area 50 years ago. He said it was hoped that the salmon would return to the experimental area and as the stocks increased young fish would be available for distribution to other South Island rivers.

Although final arrangements had to be made overseas for the supply of suitable quarantined quinnat, it was hoped that experimental work could start at an early date, the Minister said. The Marine Department in Christchurch has taken samples of the water in the ponds which have already been constructed.

The scheme is the first to win Governmental approval, and it could take up to three years to determine the best methods of farming other fish than the imported quinnat. Mr N. Isaac, director of the Isaac Construction Cbmpany, said he was unable to comment at present.