FOOD FOR TROUT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 300, 12 September 1908, Page 5

FOOD FOR TROUT.

SHRIMP-BREEDING AT ROTORUA. A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT. Nearly a year ago reports were circulated to tho effect that tho trout in Lake Rotorua and that vicinity wero losing condition, and it was put down to a shortage of appropriate food in the waters of the .lake. As a substitute for tho native food, doubtless depleted by tho enormous increase in tho number of fish, it was resolved to try and breed fresh-water shrimps (fram the Waikato) and liberate them in tno lake. The result of this novel. experiment is contained in a report which has been reeeived by Mn T. E. Donne from tho ongineer-in-charge at Rotorua. This reads as follows: — " Boar Sir,—l beg to report that tho experiment of. keeping shrimps at the hatchery has proved most successful. They were obtained from Waikato in November last, and the loss to date has only been 2 per cent. Mr. Rutherford reported as follows: — 'The consignment of _ fresh-water shrimps got from the Waikato Rivor at Mercor last November has done exceedingly well at the hatchery, tho loss being only 2 per cent, in the nine months. This water appears to be very suitable for them, and at present a large number of eggs are visible in the female shrimps (which will spawn shortly). I would suggest that we make arrangements to get several largo consignments from Mercer, and liberate them in tho weed that grows ■ in different parts of tho lake, where they could get protection from- enemies until they had a chance to increase. As the shrimp is much moro prolific than tho koura, they would multiply very rapidly, ■ and in a few years wo would have trout equal in quality to thoso of four years back. The Maoris on tho Waikato River prefer the. shrimp, to tho whitebait for food, and if the shrimp is introduced into Lake Rotorua it will fill tho place ■ef th« koura (native crayfish).' With your approval, I will arrango to obtain large consignments from Mercer towards the end of the year, arranging for th»ir liberation, as suggested by Mr. Rutherford. " Yours faithfully, " L. BIRKS, " Engineer-in-Chargo."

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