TAGGING OF FISH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21037, 23 November 1931, Page 9

TAGGING OF FISH.

CANTERBURY COMPLAINTS. ALLEGATIONS OF CRUELTY. Two complaints regarding the manner in which trout are being tagged weri» received at a meeting of the council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society last week. The letters stated that the flesh of tagged fish which had been caught had been badly inflamed near th» tagMr. G. Ebert said lie had caught a tagged fish, and the flesh near the tag" was in a very bad state-. Such tags should not be used. Professor Percival said that as far as could be determined, fish did not suffer as the result of tagging. The tag was the same as that used by many stock owners in New Zealand, and also by the Marine Department in Canada. Judgment had to be made by results, and so far the results had been successful. The fact that the fish did not lose weight was proof that the tags did n#t harm ihern. It was understood that fish did not feel pain to the same extent that human beings did. Mr. L. Weir suggested that the fish should be marked hy means of colourings. Professor Percival said that by this method not more than 30 fish could be marked with three different colours. Far more fish could be identified by the present system of tagging in the Jail. The old style had been to put, a small tag through the adipose fin, and the process was much more expensive than the present tag. Mr. C. H. Lawrence said that as the tags were so widely used they, must be the best. No action was taken regarding the letters.