“A SHOCKING ACT”

Northern Advocate, 4 February 1926, Page 6

“A SHOCKING ACT”

THOUSANDS OF, TROUT KILLED. DISINFECTANT IN RIVER LEITH. “The Leith fishing is -ruined, thousands of trout destroyed, and the river polluted by disinfectant. It is a shocking act ,and the society is greatly perturbed,” stated Mr C. A. Wilson, a member of the Otago Acclimatisation Society, concerning the destruction of between 15,000 and 20,000 trout and a few eels in the Leith stream. From investigations made, it is surmised that a large quantity of strong disinfectant or chemical had been emptied into the stream. The destruction of the fish was first noticed by the police, who saw the trout lying in hundreds on the river bed. Some small boys had noticed the Leith stream was discoloured with a milky liquid, and, following up these indications, the society’s ranger, the secretary (Mr R. Hanning), and Mr Wilson discovered that the tVholc of the stock of fish in the stream from below the bridge over which the Opoho tram passes to the mouth was exterminated. The source of the trouble was traced to a sewer which runs into the Lindsay creek just below the tram bridge. It was evident that somebody had poured the liquid into the stream, and it had found its way to the Leith, destmviiur the fish in every part of the river. The river was very heavily stocked udth trout, many of which weighed about two pounds. The general expectation was that there would he need fishing in the Leith towards the end of the season, provided that f.Mv freshes came down the stream, but the river is now ruined for fishing this season. The loss to the society and many <-ity anglers is consequently very sc, ere. Mr Wilson stated that the police iverc making investigations, ns the polluting of the stream was a serious matter.