SALMON IN DOMINION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18567, 27 November 1923, Page 8

SALMON IN DOMINION.

QUINNAT. AND ATLANTIC. FIRMLY ESTABLISHED. EXTENSION OF HABITAT. How firmly established is the quinnat salmon in New Zealand waters was indicated yesterday by the Chief Inspector of Fisheries, Mr. L. F. Ayson. For several years, he said, this species had been running up the rivers in North Otago and Canterbury in very large numbers. Last season, it was no exaggeration to say, in the Clutha, Waitaki, Rangitata, Bakaia, Waimakariri , and Waiau (North Canterbury) rivers they run up in tens of thousands. In the Rangitata and Rakaia between 1600 aid 2000 were taken by anglers, the average weight being lYlb. Several specimens weighing between 30 and 40lb were landed. The fish began to run early in January and the angling p.-ason lasted until April 30. The Marine Department ofcers collected about 1,500,000 eggs of quinnat salmon during the early part of the spawning season, but the heavy floods which j prevailed later rendered it. impossible to continue the work of collection. The department had had in hand the stocking of the Waiirau River (Marlborough). A large number of the eggs collected last season were hatched out and the young fish liberated in the tributaries of that river. As a result of stocking the Wairau salmon were showing up in other rivers in Marlborough. The fish had crossed Cook's Strait and were to be found in rivers flowing into Palliiser Bay, and also in the Rangitikei River. The quinnat salmon, said Mr. Ayson, was not, in his opinion, equal to the Atlantic salmon as a sporting fish; nevertheless anglers in Otago and Canterbury spoke enthusiastically in regard to the quinnat as a sporting fish, and they recognised, too, that it was of considerable food value. Without doubt quinnat would prove to be of great commercial value. The Marine Department imposed no restrictions, during certain seasons, upon the taking of this fish by sea fishermen for sale as a food. Further, the department allowed anglers who caught a large quantity in the rivers to market their catch. Advantage of this was taken last season by a considerable number of anglers, and it was expected that during the coming season very much larger quantities would be sold. As to the possibility of a canning' industry being created, Mr. Ayson said he did not think there would be any necessity for the department to take any steps for some time to come, simply because in the cities of Australia there existeu now a practically unlimited market for fresh and mild cured salmon.

The Atlantic salmon, which Mr. Ayson spoke of as the " greatest sporting freshwater fish in the world," is now well established in the Waiau River (Southland), and large numbers ran into the streams connected with Lake Te Anau last spawning season. The Marine Department officers collected about 600,000 eggs, which were " eyed-out " at its salmon hatchery at Te Anau, and forwarded to the new hatchery on the upper reaches of the Wanganui River, near Kakahi. The eggs were hatched out successfully, and the young fish had been liberated in safe tributary creeks flowing into the main river from Taumarunui to Waimarino.

The season, said Mr. Ayson, had been a really successful one, bearing in mind the fact that it was the department's first one for the collection and liberation of young Atlantic salmon. Experience had proved that the only successful way to establish an anadromous fish like the salmon was ■ by intense and systematic stocking, and the department had chosen the Wanganui for this purpose. The work of hatching and liberating would probably have to be carried on for from five to seven years. There was no doubt the acclimatisation of this great sporting fish in the Wanganui would prove an added attraction to sportsmen throughout the North Island, and also to tourists visiting the Tongariro National Park and other scenic attractions in the district.