Anglers’ Co-operation Sought in Taking Stock of Trout

Lake County Mail, Issue 15, 3 September 1947, Page 2

Anglers’ Co-operation Sought in Taking Stock of Trout

Full co-operation of all acclimatisation societies is required by the Fresh-water Fisheries Advisory Council in the task of assessing trout stocks of streams and lakes. Regular accurate information of catches and local conditions is necessary. The more the anglers cooperate, the more they will help to assure the future of fishing.

It is emphasised that a local background is essential if the general principle derived from fundamental research are to be correctly applied for the improvement of fisheries. The one acclimatisation society which carried out a diary system last season has received a response which is satisfactory for a first season’s effort, and the results are being submitted to the Marine Department’s research officers for analysis and report. Collection of Data Plans are being prepared by the Internal Affairs Department on the advice of the Fisheries Officer of the Marine Department, for the systematic collection by their field staff of much data which is required for the correct management of fisheries. The plans include the obtaining of records regarding spawning runs in many streams, and the accurate recording of data regarding angling catches. The department’s principle “ population studies ” continue in the Horokiwi Stream, Wellington province. At the council’s recent meeting Professor P'ercival said that it appeared to him that the Wellington Acclimatisation Society might find it necessary to regard the Horokiwi Stream, where most of the experiments were sighted, as a laboratory, not as an angling water. It was pointed out, as far as stocking policy went, the society should not attempt to modify conditions there without reference to the senior research officer.