DECREASE IN WHITEBAIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18534, 19 October 1923, Page 6

DECREASE IN WHITEBAIT .

THE CANTERBURY RIVERS. CLOSED SEASON WANTED. [BS TELEGRAPYI. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ( ' > : 'CHRISTCHTJRCH. Thursday .;., The decrease of whitebait in Canterbury rivers was discussed by tho Council of the North Canterbury, Acclimatisation Society. ■':. Mr. E. P. Stead said efforts should bo made' to reinstate whitebait in the Avon and i the Heathcole. Whitebait could be obtained, and liberated fairly well' up in the' reaches > v .... . :!";;■ ' Professor Blunt- said it had been shown that the greater. the quantity of pollut- 1 ing matter, that was deposited .-. in, : ,t : k. stream, r the less ■ would, fish ,'•; go '.'; up it *to spawn. ' ' ''' : '/':■-■ ■ "\ ...'-' Mr. Stead , said, if !whitebaiting; was stopped and whitebait were liberated-in the upper reaches, ' good results, ha; was convinced, would be obtained. , ■ ; : Professor Speight said very little .was known about the. whitebait's habitg. - In some years whitebait did not go .up the West Coast rivers, although ( there ; was ; no pollution there. It was decided to suggest to the Marine Department that there should be a closed season for whitebaiting in the Avon at least. :'."" .;.■,;' • %. ■■ '- : V ■■'■■■'■:-. ... " . '""■—-- . ;