ACCLIMATISATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4010, 23 December 1874, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION.

TROUT HATCHING. ' Trout hatching, writes our Arrow correspondent, has been a most unequivocal success in this district. ', Early.in Septemter last Mr Alexander Innes, the' Mayor of Arrowtown,. at the representation of Mr-Cope. (who. had been on a visit to Dune'din), 'that a .parcel of trout ova -might be procured from the Acclimatisation Society, at once telegraphed that a supply might be forwarded, which was done, and on the 19th of the same month a box containing five hundred ova was received in excellent condition, only three of the number being, found dtad This success was not only due to the careful manner in which the box was packed, but to the care taken by Messrs Devine and Nettlefold, Cobb and Co.V drivers, between this and the Clyde, who at every possible opportunity cooled the ova with clear running water, the same care being exercised by Mr Parsons, of Messrs Ord and Parsons, who own the line of coaches between this and the Clyde. The process of hatching was a very Rimple one, and possibly the real cause of the success, as not one single fish either hatched or during the process of hatching has died, and when it is taken into account that 100 fish is amply sufficient to stock a"very large stream, Hayes Creek and Hayes Lake should soon be a favourite locality for the disciples of " Old Isaac Walton," while a few of the newly introduced but welcome little strangers might with advantage be turned adrift into the head waters of the Arrow river and Shotover branches. The modus operandi of the hatching process was strictly in accordance with the verbal instructions of Mr Murison to Mr Cope, which were, if situation favoured, to distribute the ova on a thin layer of well-washed gravel, laid over the bottom of the box, and so placed in a slow running stream that the water could readily pass through the box. Messrs Innes. Mr Jones, and the Messrs Butel, of the' Arrow Flour Mills, undertook the task of hatching, and fitting up a disused shoe trunk for the purpose, by inserting a piece-of smut wire at either end, also fixing a lid to keep the box dark as well as to prevent any .injury to the ova from prying strangers. The box was accordingly placed in Messrs Butel's mill race, where the fish hatched readily. As soon as the young trout became properly developed a number of irregularly flattened stones were placed in the box, under the shelter of which the young fish apparently delighted, and where they managed to work themselves to, although encumbered with the umbilical sac 3 which they retained for about a month. Being rid of this they disported themselves about the hatching box vigorously, apparently enjoying their newly - found existence. From this stage they were fed regularly with a small quantity of liver dried and powdered. The young fish would also rise and secure minute insects that fell upon the water. About a week since, about one hundred of the young fish were placed in a small pond prepared for the purpose, and are doing remarkably well. As many more were liberated in Hayes Creek. The rest remain in the breeding box for distribution elsewhere. The fish in the box up to the present time appear to thrive better than their fellows in the pond—that is, so far as growth is concerned ; nevertheless they are all equally healthy. : TROUT FISHING. |

Trout fishing was legalised* mt^ew Zealand on the 7th inst., for the first time. At its last- annual meeting the Acclimatisation Society resolved to recommend the Provincial Government to declare an open season5 for brown trout; fishing in the streams in which these fish had been liberated six years ago. The streams include the Shag River, Kakanuij Island Stream, Waikouaiti, Water rof Leith, Silver Stream, and Fulton's Creek, West Taieri. The Government accordingly declared the months of December, 1874, and January and February, 1875-, an open season to holders of licenses, for each of which the sum of one pound has to be paid, the licenses not being transferable. For some days past it has been known that old anglers have been on the alert, getting their tackle in readiness'for the first. At day-break yesterday keen sportsmen might have been seen on the banks of some of the above mentioned streams, anxious to discover whether trout in New Zealand would give sport. Unfortunately the streams overywhere are low at present, and the clearness of the morning made the fish shy. The worm was chiefly used, although those who tackled the Shag "River ventured the fly. No large baskets were taken, but the fish that were caught were, as a rule, much larger than trout fishers usually get in streams at home. The fish taken were generally about half a pound weight. The vexed question whether the trout in New Zealand will rise to the artificial fly has been set at rest, as we know of one gentleman who, after having secured some fine fi3h with worm, put on his flies, and very soon landed a plump three-quarter pounder.- Although several were fortunate, we hear of one or two instances m which a weary morning was spent with rod and line without any satisfactory result. Amongst the fortunate ones were a wellknown learned divine and a member of the legal profession. A fair basket of respectable-sized trout were the victims of their skill. They certainly deserved this reward.

ACCLIMITISA.TION SOCIETY. . The usual monthly meeting of, the Council of the Acclimatisation Society was held on the 10th inst., there being present Mr A. C. Begg (Hon Secretary), Bishop Nevill, Captain' Boyd, Mr W. D. Murison (in the chair), and Mr Deans (Manager). A letter was read from, the Secretary of the Grey District Acclimatisation Society, applying for a few hundred youn? trout. It was resolved that, owing to the difficulty of transporting the fish to Greymouth with -anything like; a fair chance of success, the Grey District Society be recommenped to wait until they can obtain a tupply of ova. The Manager -reported that 7250 trout eggs , had been sent away to different places during the past winter, and that'47o6 , young trout had been liberated by him within the last month in various | streams in the' Province. The numbfer liberated by the Society last, year was | 2200. Mr Deans also reported that during 1874, 9025 young Californian trees'had been distributed by the Society among its members, in addition to a large quantity of tree seeds. Last year the number of trees of the same kind that was distributed was 8650. It was reported that up to the present time seventeen licenses for brown trout fishing had been taken out at the Provincial Treasury, and it was mentioned that although it was not provided by " The Salmpn and Trout Act, 1867,' that the license fees should go to the Society, as is the case with game licenses, in all probability the Provincial Government would not retain the money as an item, of Provincial revenue. An interesting discussion took place on the subject of the opening of the season for trout fishing, during which it was stated that one mem- j tor of the Society had succeeded, one afternoon, in taking a large basket ,of twenty fish, weighing 131b, all of them having been caught with the fly. > The largest fish yet taken by the" rod weighed upwards of 31b, and was captured by Mr R. M. .Robertson last week. It was mentioned that great difference of opinion exists amongst tho^e who have been fortunate enough to secure specimens of the brown trout in Otago, with regard to their edible qualities. Some have reported them to be coarse, and muddy in flavour, while others assert that the fish are equal in flavour to the finest brown trout at home. (Our reporter knows of only one way by which

thia disputed point can be settled. This to successful anglers only.) Bishop Nevill spoke ot the desirability ojS introducing rooks, and he suggested that if they could not be forwarded from liome they might be obtained from Auckland in exchange for starlings or some of the other imported English birds which have "become plentiful here, and which can be spared. Bishop Nevill said that we had great need of having insectivorous birds in large numbers in the Province., He stated that a few days ago' he observed, in the neighbourhood of Dunedin a cloud of what he supposed was vegetable seed ; but, upon examination, it proved to be composed of small beetles. These insects, it is well known, are very destructive to gardens. After some unimportant business was transacted, the meeting broke up. We understand from Mr Edward Devine, Cobb and Go's driver, that a parcel of trout ova, numbering about fifty, and placed by him in a hatching box at Coal Creek, in the vicinity of the Pig B,oot Hotel, have all been successfully hatched. This was some six" months ago, and the young fish, varying from••; four to six inches in length, may any day be seen swimming about. The following acclimatisation items are from the Clutha Leader:—The Btarlirigs liberated some years ago by the Acclimatisation Society have taken up their abode at Inch Clutha. About three weeks ago we noticed two of their nests in Mr M 'Donald's bush, near the upper end of the, island. One nest contained young ones, which the parent birds were most assiduous in attending to, visiting the i nest a great many -times during the day, and each time having their bills well filled with food for the young. The food appeared plentiful, as they were only a very short time absent from their, nests, until they returned with fresh sup-, plies. Our informant adds: —About a fortnight ago, in walking through Mr M Donald's paddocks, a short distance below the punt, I raised.twelve starlings that were feeding in the grass. They flew over, the river into Smith Brothers bush. Partridges are now to be seen within the proximity of the township. A few days, since Sir Melrose came upon a number of. voug partridges while cutting some grass' m his paddock. They attempted1 to fly; but were unable. Mr Melrose also, informs us that they have been building ml a broom hedge within a short distance of his Inuse, where ho has repeatedly seen the cock and hen together. Pheasants are reported to be heard daily in the swamp about the centre of Inch Clutha.