STOCKING OF STREAMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21273, 29 August 1932, Page 10

STOCKING OF STREAMS

TROUT FRY AND OVA . | AUCKLAND SOCIETY'S WORK ! PREPARATIONS FOR SEASON The fishing season for rainbow and brown trout opens in the Auckland Acclimatisation Society's district, on October 1 and in the Rotorua and Taupo areas a month later. Mr. T. S. Withers, a member of the council of tbo society, stated on Saturday that anglers could look forward to a continuation of the decided improvement which had been apparent during the past few seasons throughout tho society's district. "Intensive stocking operations, with both trout fry and ova, have been carried out in all suitable streams and rivers for many years past, and, at tho same time, tho officers of the society, in conjunction with the Fish Research Board, have given much attention to tho scientific study, of our fish and streams," stated Mr. Withers. "The result of this work is particularly exemplified in such rivers as tho Wanganui, in which a remarkable improvement in tho number, condition and average weight of fish has been evident during the past season." Mr. Withers said other rivers and streams in which intensive stocking had yielded very satisfactory results were the Ongarue, Waimiha, Waipa, Upper Waihou, Oraka, Little Waipa, Pokaiwhenua and Waikato. During tho coming season Auckland anglers would be able to obtain excellent sport from at least fivo streams within a few miles of Putaruru, in addition to many streams in the Lower Waikato and King Country districts. As part of its policy of tho conservation of trout streams, tho society had recently decided to restrict the fishing in some streams to artificial or natural fly only, and, in practically all streams, had prohibited the use of live or dead natural bait. Benefits were expected from the provisions, which had been recognised by -sportsmen as being inevitable if the standard of fishing was to bo maintained in tho future. Mr. Withers commented on the serious loss to the society in its activities as a result of the death through a motor accident recently of the chief ranger, Mr. W. T. Routledge. Much of the improvement shown in the fishing in the district was due to Mr. Routledgo's work, and tin* appointment of a ranger to continue the lines of activity was now boing considered by tho council. The angling season in the Auckland district will close on April 30 and in the case of Taupo and Rotorua on May 30.