PROTECTION OF TROUT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2482, 24 May 1909, Page 5

PROTECTION OF TROUT.

To the Editor

Anglers wliu ply the gentle art on the Fraser stream cannot have failed to observe how the stream is being constantly depleted of trout per medium of the many water races heading therefrom. During the past two seasons thousands of young fish perished in the river couise below the site of the intake to those races, and through the latter many thousands more found their way to the Molyneux where, from an anglers point of view, they are as good as dead. It has occurred to me, Sir, that something could and should be done by anglers to prevent this depletion of the best trout stream in Central Otago. For some years past this favourite resort of anglers lias given sport to some forty licensed individuals; and the quality and gameness of the trout has always been appreciated by anglers and their friends. But with the sources of depletion referred to still open and no steps taken to remedy the evil, another dry season may pnt the stream in such a condition as must make it not worth the attention of anglers, some twenty of whom lish it solely during the season. What I would suggest as a remedial measure is the erection of a few stone weirs at favorable parts of the stream from the electrie power house upwards for a distance of about half a mile. The course, of the stream would not he effected in the least owing to the rocky nature of its hanks, and as material is at hand the building of a few weirs should not cost a fabulous sum.

The erection of weirs would give a protective depth of water to trout, and instead of dropping down stream as .fish will do on a falling river, they would take shelter behind the weirs until a flood enabled them to travel up stream again. The cost of weiring need not exceed a sum of £lO. I’m convinced the Acclimatisation Society would vote this amount for the work if its necessity and urgency were represented to that body, Anglers are all agreed as to the liberality of the Society when it is a question of keeping up the stock in our streams, and as the amount mentioned would not exceed more than one-third of the revenue derived in one season from anglers who ply their art on the Fraser Stream it i» imped any representations made anent the erection of weirs will meet with the society’s approval. , I am, etc.,

jojjn snmiy