PISCICULTURE IN SOUTHLAND.

North Otago Times, Volume XI, Issue 346, 15 September 1868, Page 3

PISCICULTURE IN SOUTHLAND.

The Prairie, from Hobart Town, arrived in the New River on Tuesday afternoon. Mr Howard, the curator, who was despatched to Tasmania, has returned in her, bringing tho promised contribution of trout ova and fish from the Tasmanian rfalnion Commissioners. The ponds for the breeding of trout, and ultimately salmon, were complotedby tho contractors, Messrs MoITett and Shearer, some ten or fourteen days since, and as considerable interest attaches to the progress of the undertaking, we are glad to bo enabled, by tho courtesy of Mr E. Elliott,, 0 E , under whose supervision they wero constructed, to place before our readers a conciso description. The ponds are situate on tho Maknrewti River, in an enclosure of about one and a-half acres in extent, on tho property of John Morton, Esq., Wallacetown, cqui-distant between the railway bridge and the bridge at Wallacetown. Tho water supplying the ponds is from tho drainage of a largo Ira'-t of land to tho north and east of Wullacetown, and, being filtered naturally, forms at once a catch-dam of the purest water. The dam is formed by a puddle wall of proportionate strength nino yards long by four yards broad, and upon an average one foot sis inches deep. The hatching-house is nine feet by eight, and holds sis boxes 4x7x8; four of the boxes are set longitudinully, and two transversely. Each box contains a supply of well-washed gravel, for the reception of the ova. The water passes to the boxes by an inch pipe loading from the catch dam into the hatching house, a bras3 tap regulates tho supply, and the end of the pipe in the dam is finished oil' by a finoly perforated rose, preventing tho possibility of eels or any nnpuro matter finding their way into the hatching boxes. From the breeding boxes a spout or flume conveys the water passing through them into tho rearing pond, of an oval shape, which is also fully supplied by a separate stream of water 8x4 direct from the catch, also protected by perforated zinc. The roaring pond will contain 4200 gallons of water. The egreas water passes through a screou of perforated zinc to prevent any young fish from escaping or destructive fish entering. Tho water in tho x'eariug pond can bo reduced, retained, or completely let off aa circumBtances may require by the aid of a sluice worked by a powerful screw. The pond has a gradual slope of ono in twelve, and 13 completely lined with gravel of various sizes, affording excellent shelter for the young fish. The whole of the ground is well-protectod by a substantial fence, post and rail and fencing wire combined. The curator'* house is a comfortable little dwelling, completely lined with timber, and nicely finished throughout. — Southland News, 3rd Soptomber.