MORE SALMON.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 49, 21 November 1907, Page 2

MORE SALMON.

SUGGESTED IMPORTATIONS.

THE ATLANTIC VARIETY. Now that tho quiiinat salmon has made hihiself at home ill New' Zealand waters, a a evidonced by his return in successive seasons to Otago rivers, tho Marino Department is casting round ior now fish to acclimutiso. )t is proposed to placo on tho Supplementary Estimates a sum fojr tho importation of 500,000 ova of the Atlantic salmon, an even finer sporting fish than tho popular Quinnas. The secretary of tho Marino Department (Mr. G. Allport) has been in communication with the Canadian Commissioner of Fisheries on this subject, and if the vote is passed the Commissioner will bo asked to supply these ova, whicji will bo shipped from Vancouver, and hatched out probably in Lnko To Anau. The fish will thou "be placed in tho Waiau river, Southland, which is considered to be the most suitable river in that locality that does not already contain salmon. It is intended to send an official to America- to take charge of the fish, experience -having shown that that is the only way to ensure for them safe transport. As tho Chief Inspector of Fisheries (Mr. L. F. Ayson), who has made the trip on past occasions, cannot bo spared this year, it is proposed that his son, Mr. Charles Ayson, manager of tho. Government salmon hatchery at Hakataramea, who has had great experience of tlieso fish, shall make the journey. It is hoped that this importation, nrpviditho expenditure is sanctioned by Parliament, will be the beginning of a systematic attempt to acclimatise tho Atlantic salmon in ive'.v Zealand. Something has been done before I:, this direction, but only in a spasmodic way. One or two Atlantic salmon have been known to return from the sea to southern rivers, but the fish is hardly yet a naturalised New Zealand subject. ■ The Atlantic salmon, Mr. Ayson states, is n prince among the salmon tribes. He is tho groat sporting salmon of the world. The qninnat may do better for the market, but for anglers tho world over the Atlantic has no rival. He takes the ily freely, and is venturous for other baits. His existence m New Zealand rivers will be a great attraction to the sporting tourist. " But give mo the Killamoy salmon," says tho Irishman impatiently. " Tho salmon that wo caught in tho Tay," remarks tho reminiscent Scotchman. "Those Norwogian follows I" says tho traveller. All tlieso will bo satisfied. Tho Atlantic salmon (salmo salar) is the (ish they knew, presenting somo slight difl'orencos of appearance in different waters, but retaining everywhere the sporting characteristics of tho brood.