FISHING WATERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23111, 9 August 1938, Page 10

FISHING WATERS

RESTOCKING WOKE FIVE MILLION TROUT FRY ESTIMATED TOTAL FOR SEASON [by telegraph OWN correspondent] ROTORUA, Monday -As a result of tho additional facilities provided by the erection of a new hatchery at Ngongotaha, trout hatching by the Internal Affairs Department will this year exceed by far the totals of any previous year and will bo completed at least one month earlier than during 1937. Although it was first estimated that tho capacity of the new Ngongotaha hatchery would be only about 2,250,000. ova, it has already been shown that this was a very conservative estimate, for at tho present time there are 2,570,000 ova hatching in the building, with 400,000 having been consigned to the hatchery at' "Waikaremoana and a similar number sent back for hatching at Tokaanu. Nearly 4,000,000 Ova Liberations throughout tho district, including Rotorua, Taupo and tho Bay of Plentj', amounted to 2,577,000 fry last year, with tho number of ova handled at all hatcheries up to August 13 totalling 947,500. So far this year 3,900,000 ova, or 1,330,000 moro than the total for tho full hatching season of 1937, have already been laid down at the three hatcheries, with the probability of at least another 1,000,000 being received before the hatching for the year is stopped. Liberations for the present season total 713,000, with a further batch of 125,000 due for distribution in the lakes within tho next few days. Liberations to August 13, 1937, amounted to 127,000. Earlier Completion of Work The final liberations last year were made toward the end of November. It ia hoped to complete the work a month earlier this year, and it is also expected that the number of fry put out will exceed the previous year's total by well over 2,000,000. So far the liberations have been confined to Lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti, but during the present week the first liberations in the Taupo district will be made, with another batch at Waikaremoana ready for liberation in about a fortnight.