FOOD FOR TROUT

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 109, 1 February 1940, Page 8

FOOD FOR TROUT

Thousands Of Smelt In Lake Taupo

ROTORUA CONSIGNMENTS Experienced anglers in New Zealand have long recognized the value as trout, food of tho smelt, a tiny fish which, at different times of Hie year, abounds in shoals in parts of the Rotorua district. For some years past the Government has transported from Rotorua large consignments of smelts for liberation in Lake Taupo as additional food for the trout in the lake fishing grounds. Tlie yearly release in Lake Taupo has been, in recent years, in the vicinity of 50,000. Information reached tho Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry, yesterday, that the smelt in thousands now appeared in Lake Taupo which, in view of the past efforts made to establish the smelt there, was encouraging. In it report on the discovery of tho smelt, Mr. K. Francis, Ranger ol the Department of Internal Affairs, states: “By far the most important factor is the increase in number and migration of the smelts. I have recently returned from a ranging expedition to Western Bay in the Taupo launch and saw there countless thousands of smelts distributed over the western coast from the Boat Harbour, Waihora, Waihaha, Wanganui, and they were encountered ns far south as Scenic Reserve Bay. At the Tokaanu end around Tokaanu Bay they are numerous in the suitable waters, while at Motutere and Hatepe they have been seen in smaller quantities. It would appear that they have followed the western coast more readily than the eastern coast owing to the fact that the western coast, offers more shelter from tho prevailing winds and seas. In western bays the trout; are feeding on them readily and have Changed their habits to a certain extent from bottom feeding to surface feeding.” . ~ Mr. Parry said the appearance of the smelt in multitudes in Lake Taupo would help greatly the work of the fisheries officers irnd in the solution of the much-vexed problem of food for trout.