FISH HATCHERIES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 210, 29 May 1908, Page 10

FISH HATCHERIES.

STATEMENT BY HON. J. 'A. MILLAR. (BX TELEGRAriI. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Dunctiin, May 28. Some important remarks wore made to-day at a deputation from the Marine Fish Hatch-' cries Board that waited on the Minister for Marine. Mr. 6. M. Thomson'' said that the work of tho Socioty' had 'hitherto been confined to tho importation of lobsters and crabs. He thought that in a : few years the stock would havo so increased that the setis along this coast would be. stocked, and it was only a matter of timo when the lobsters would spread thomselves right along tho coast 'and stock the seas of the north. In- tho next shipment they had asked Dr. Allen, of Plymouth, to include a small ship-, ment of at least one kind of food fish. He believed that the Board had laid the foundation of what would bo a valuable assot to tho Dominion, and he hoped somo day'a valuablo industry'. Tho Minister said he agreed with Mr. Thomson that tho Board's hatchery would grow, and that it would be the means of bringing into our waters some of the finest food fishes. The salmon, which the Government had introduced, was now thoroughly acclimatised,'and they. had been stripping their own fish bred in New Zealand. He would • like to sec the Boartl bring out haddock and herring.. If the Board, could show at tho end of next year, as' Mr. Thomson fully anticipated, that thoy would have a million lobster ova in the ponds ho thought that that would bo ample justification for the Government saying that they woro going ahead with tho hatchory. As Minister in chargo of the Marine Department, ho had to personally thank the Board for the assistanco they ,had ! given. ' (BY TELEGRAPH. —PP.ESS ASSOCIATION.) □unedir., May 28. Speaking at a deputation from the Marino Fish, Hatcheries' Board, which waited on tho Minister for Marine this morning., Mr. Chamberlain said tho total expenditure at tho station from its inception up to December 31 was £2694 4s. 6d. From tho Government they received £2025 19sr6d., and from other societies £668 ss. ■' expenses had been: 1905, £373; 1906, £371: and 1907, £310. Tho Minister stated'that ho'had instructed Mr. Allport to place £500 on tho Estimates for consideration of Parliament for introducing sea fish. • Tlio Government had agreed to pay £250 for five years, but. that agreement expired next year. It was the duty, of tho ; Govornmont to givo tho Board further; assist- j ance. Ho thought it advisablo to include somo food fish in next shipment. The wholo . of tho fish they had imiwrtcd so far had i taken naturally to their waters; and ho believed it would bo a good thing if haddock -and liorring woro brought out. '