SALMON FOR OUR SEAS AND RIYERS

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1259, 16 October 1911, Page 4

SALMON FOR OUR SEAS AND RIYERS

ME. AYSON'S TASK. Mr. L. F. Avson, Director of Fisheries, who was in Christchurch on Friday, states that over one million Atlantic salnion ova were imported this year. Tho ova were procured from Scotland, tho south of England, and Germany, and they are being hatched out at Lake To Anau. Tho hatching is turning out very satisfactory, hut, in order to thoroughly establish such a migratory fish as the salmon, the importations of ova will require to go on for several years. The American, or quinnat salmon, with which the groat canning industry is carried on 011 the western coast of America and British Columbia, has been successfully introduced into New Zealand waters. The experiment in introducing this salmon has been carried out at Ilakataramea. and the fitfi were liberated in tho Waitaki. They arc now to be found in all tho glacial streams that feed Lakes Tekapo, l'ukaki, and Oliau, and there is 110 difficulty in obtaining fish for stripping in the smaller streams in the Mackenzie Country. A number of young nuinnat salmon have been caught with fishermen's nets at Timaru, showing that after the.v w»'.it down tho AVaitaki into tho sea they were carried north by tho ocean current. A few wore also caught at the mouth of the Rangitata. In tho mouths of the rivers in America and British Columbia, the quinuant salmon provide good sport, but. once they ascend tho rivers, they will not take any bait. Mr. Ayson is satisfied that the successful establishment of tho quinnat is prcof flint the Atlantic salmon can also he acclimatised in New Zealand, and, if so, it vail add greatly to the sport of anglers.