QUINNAT SALMON

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 260, 28 July 1921, Page 5

QUINNAT SALMON

NOW FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN NEW ZEALAND WATERS A RECORD RUN THIS YEAR The run of the quinnat salmon in the Waitaki River this year has been a record one. and the experts have no doubt at all now that the fish is firmly established. The Chief Inspector of Fisheries (Mr. H. F. Ayson) states that within the next few years it will bo possible to place largo quantities of salmon on the market, and perhaps to establish a canning industry. Tho local inspector of fisheries at Glenavy, near the mouth of the Waitaki River, states in a report that spawning salmon have come up the Waitaki in enormous numbers during the past season. "Fishermen,’’ he says, “have been here from all over New Zealand, but tho catch by anglers has been very poor. The salmon, for some reason, would not bite at spinning baits as they have done in other years; they seemedl to be travelling up river, and not waiting about ns in other seasons. All tho fish caught wei'e 'in splendid condition, but the weight varied from 4|lb. to 35jlb. Salmon were first noticed in the river this season nn December 23, 1920. but it was not until January 19, 1921, that I caught tho first, a 191 b. female. From then on to April 6 they were caught, about 130 fish being taken out by different fishermen." The biggest fish landed by anglers was one of 3511 b. Another weighed 341 b., and the average was over 201 b. ’ Tho manager of the Government salmon hatchery at rfakataramea reports t'hat the run of sfilmon this spawning season was the largest yet experienced in New Zealand. The fish were also larger in size anti in better condition than in previous years. A good many specimens of "spent" fish—fish which have lost condition during the spawning —both in the Dobson and the Ahuriri Rivers, measured from 4ft. to 4ft. 4in. in length. According to the American tables a 4ft. fish in normal condition would run from 601 b. to 651 b. Tho collection of salmon eggs at tho Government hatchery this year was somewhat disappointing considering the size of the runs which took place in all the tributaries of the Waitaki. This was caused bv the river conditions being unfavourable to tho netting and trapping of the spawning fish. The total quantity of eggs taken for tho year and nut down nt tho Hakataramea hatchery is 1,133,000.