ATLANTIC SALMON FRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18547, 3 November 1923, Page 12

ATLANTIC SALMON FRY.

STOCKING ; THE WANGANUI. MR. AYSON OPTIMISTIC. CONDITIONS FAVOURABLE. [hi TXLltaaAPH.—own COIIBSSPONDEJrr.J ' ,-^v'WELLINGTON. Friday. The Chbf Inspector of Fisheries, Mr. L. F. Ayson, returned from the north today, where he has been liberating Atlantic salmon fry in the upper reaches of the * Wanganui River, and visiting the oyster beds in the Hauraki Gc!f. He stated that approximately the number of fry liberated to date in the smaller tributaries of the Wanganui River is 556,000, and. there 'i are yet to be liberated 50,000. , Mr. Ayson said he was convinced that the conditions in the Wanganui River art l almost ideal for, Atlantic salmon, and the fact that these' fish are found from the Arctic circle to 41 degrees south in the North Sea, ' and range through the same latitude on the . American Atlantic coasts, proved that the _ slightly wanner conditions do not militate against the equally successful establishment of the Atlantic salmon in the waters of the North Island. •'The, hatchery on the Wanganui River, which , has been established this year, has floor space to handle 750,000 ova. The fry which successfully survive river enemies will probably remain in' the river for two-years, and will then seek the sea. In the third spring after their release, when they arrive at the reproductive stage, which they do after a sojourn in salt water away from the coast, they ascend the river again to spawn. ■ Although conditions vary greatly here from both the United, States and 'Scotland, it will, be apparent that . it will be some years before Wanganui anglers can expect to, hook a fully developed Atlantic salmon, but the success which ha? attended -Mr. Ayson's acclimatisation of salmon in the south is a forecast of,what may be expected in the. Wanganui, if fry liberation in sufficient numbers is continued annually. ' "■' -.-.