Removal of salmon trap at Highbank proposed

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32660, 16 July 1971, Page 11

Removal of salmon trap at Highbank proposed

The removal of the salmon trap in the Highbank power station tail-race in the Rakaia River will be recotn--1 mended by the Ashburton Acclimatisation Society to the South Island Salmon Committee, which comprises representatives of acclimatisation societies in Canter-; 'bury. Illis decision was made at| the monthly meeting of the Ashburton society, after a report of an inspection by the ranger (Mr B. H. Strange) with a member of the North Canterbury society. The Highbank trap was the first commercial salmon trap designed for use in New Zealand when it was built in 1956. It has a capacity of 180 cu. ft, and weighs 12001 b. It has been operated by the South Island Salmon Committee.

During the first salmon run after the trap was installed, police had to be called to Highbank to prevent irate anglers from obstructing men engaged in netting salmon from the race.

A decision to inspect the outfalls of the Hinds and i Rangitata irrigation systems iwith a view to devising a type of trap which would reduce the losses of salmon into these systems was made at the meeting. The inspection will be made by the society’s ranger. The ranger’s report to the meeting referred to a salmon spawning survey carried out in sections of Bowyers and Taylors streams in midJune. Flooding before this period had been found to have covered all traces of early spawning, but indications were that a number of fish had used Bowyers stream and the Ashburton River. Although fish were seen in Taylors stream, little use appeared to have been made of these waters.

The society decided to oppose a remit from the North Canterbury society to the forthcoming meeting of the South Island Council of Acclimatisation Societies that the game shooting season be extended by one month.