THE FISHERIES COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8755, 18 March 1890, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE FISHERIES COURT.

The perch (Peroa fluviatilis) is another of our introduced fishes, young specimens of which may be seen in one of the fish tanks in the Fisheries court. This fish was first acclimatised in 1868, when 21 fish got from Tasmania were put in the Dunedin city reservoir. The fish thrived so well that it was soon possible to distribute them to various parts of the province. The perch has also been successfully acclimatised in the North Island, at Wanganui. The perch inhabits lakes, ponds, and rivers. It occasionally descends rivers to the salt water at their mouth, and in such case the flavour of the fish is much improved. As the perch is very fonc of the young fry of fish it is not a desirable fish to place in streams stocked with other fish. In its third year, and when about Gin in length it begins to spawn, depositing up to 20,000 ova, or even more. The full grown perch seldom exceeds 31b in weight. Perch breed so fast that if care is not taken to keep them thinned out they will soon overstock a pond.

The sea trout (Salmo trutta) was introduced into the colony in 1870, when 140 fry were brought from Tasmania. Eighty young fish were liberated the following year in the Shag river, and some were placed in the Water of Leith. An occasional fish has been caught in Otago harbour and along the coast to the North, so that the salmon trout appears to have been acclimatised, although the fish does not appear to have multiplied very fast. According to Dr Gunther the sea trout attains a length of 3ft. In 1876,1,100 sea trout were distributed by the Southland society. Dr Hector had a sea trout sent him in 1881, caught in Nelson harbour. ■■ It was a female fish that had just spawned, and was 25in long. He .considered the catch of great importance, from the fact that the only fish of the kind introduced into the colony were the few brought from Tasmania and liberated in the Shag river in 1871.

The brown trout (Salmo fario) is the one salmonoid most successfully acclimatised in the colony. The first attempt to introduce it was made in Canterbury in 1567, but the experiment was a failure. In 1868, however both Otago and Canterbury were able to distribute young brown trout in their streams, and two years later Auckland and Southland did the same thing. Our success with the brown trout has been spoken of among experts in England as one of the most brilliant experiments in the annals of fish culture. The first successful hatching of brown trout in Otago was in October 1868, when 720 out of 800 ova obtained from Tasmania were hatched at the Opoho breeding ponds. The Canterbury Society received a consignment of trout ova from Tasmania in 1868 also from which 433 young trout were hatched and distributed in the Avon, Heathcote, and other rivers. The first ora came to Auckland from Tasmania in 1870, and 60 young fish were hatched out, and put in Edgecumbc Creek, Western Springs.

In 1876 trout were successfully introduced to Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, and Wanganui. The total number of brown trout distributed by the Otago Society up till March 31,1889, was 431,700. Pretty well every river and stream in Otago, Southland, and Canterbury is fully stocked with this splendid fish. Stuffed specimens of this excellent fish may be seen in the Fisheries court, and in several county bays in the New Zealand avenue. In Lake Wakatipu the brown trout attain a large size, fish up to 201bs weight being frequently netted. The fish may often be seen in shoals at tha mouth of the creeks emptying into the lake. I'ish up to 201b weight are frequently taken by anglers in the Canterbury rivers, and fish of a corresponding size are known to frequent the mouths of some Otago rivers. At the mouth of the Taieri river beautiful trout, with bright silvery scales like salmon, are occasionally enclosed in the seine nets used for flounder fishing, and fish ud to at least 151b weight have been seen disporting themselves on a quiet, warm evening, in some of the eddies near the mouth of the river. Netting of these fish is not allowed, and no angler has ever attempted to capture them with the line. As these larger trout probably go out to sea and fail victims to the many enemies there encountered, it is a pity that they cannot be taken before quitting the river. While the stringency of the law against poaching should not be relaxed, the regulations relating to catching trout in some, at least, of our rivers should be rendered less stringent. Already the brown trout is frequently exposed for sale in our fish markets, and in the immediate future it should add no small item to the revenue of the various counties and societies.

The tench (Tinea vulgaris) may be seen in a tank in the fisheries court. The Acclimatisation Society has a few of these fish at Opoho and Clinton. The tench is described in the " Handbook of New Zealand Fishes " as a powerful and handsome fish which would well repay cultivation. It prefers lakes and ponds, and sleeps away the larger portion of the winter season in cold climates. It is very tenacious of life, and as many as 250,000 ova have been taken from one fish: It spawns on water plants and the young fish hatch out in a week or 10 days. The largest fish attain a length of ISin. The Scotch burn trout (Salmo fario) is another fish that has been successfully introduced into the colony. Specimens may be seen in a tank in the Fisheries court. In the Otago Society's report for 1889 it is stated that the society had 200 four-year-old fish in confinement at Clinton. These produced 15,000 ova the previous season, and H. 300 were hatched successfully. These 11,300 have been distributed and placed in the following streams; — Kaihikn, Kuriwao,

l'uerun, Silver Stream, AYf.itahunn, Waitati, AVaiwcra, and Water of Loith, in addition to quantities supplied to private individuals. The Loch Lcven trout (Salmo levensis) was lirst distributed by tho Otago Society iv ISSt, when 920 young fish were distributed in all. The total fish distributed t ill the end of. March ISBO, were 128,500. In the society's last annual report it is stated that at Clinton the society has 210 five-year-old fish, and 1.00 one-year-old. It was estimated that 100,000 ova were got from tho 210 fish mentioned. The report continues: "MrW. S. l'illans and Mr O. AY. Adams lately visited our AVest Coast Sounds, and kindly undertook to liberate some fry in the rivers in that district. AVc supplied them with GOO Loch Leven and (JOO American brook trout. These gentlemen have since reported that the fry arrived there safely, and were liberated in the Cleddau and Arthur rivers." The society's success with tho Looh Lovcn trout is second only to its success with tho brown trout.

Specimens of Khir.e trout and Khino salmon may bo seen in a tank in tho Fisheries court. In October ISS7 Mr Kutherford, of Wellington, sent the Otago society a consignment of :";"> Rhine salmon and i! 0 illiinc trout. Mr Butherford advised (lie society to keep these in confinement, especially the Hhine trout, which may prove to be the great lake trout (a snlmonoid shark), which attains a weight of (!01b to 1001b. hi the society's last report it is stated that there were 40 two-years-o'.d Rhine salmon and 20 two-year-v\A Khine trout at Opoho. They were in splendid condition, and were beginning to show signs of producing ova.

Several specimens of the young of tho American catfish (I'imolodes cattus) may ba seen in a tank in the Fisheries court. Of Ibis fish Land nnd AVater says:—"Considerable attention has been paid to tho distribution of this species in tho United States. It is said to do well in small lakes, ponds, and mill dams, to bo good eating, and easily "*».ught." The catfish have increased to a large extent in lakes near Sacramento, and have a£Eor<l ( ;d an important addition to the fool supply of that city and its vicinity. They are as Wily as the carp and as easy to cultivate. 'I'he young catfish in the tank in the Fisheries court were obtained from Mr Johnston, of Opawa. It i 3 not the intention of tho Ota<;o Society to introduce the catfish. The theory guiding the society is without doubt the correct one, and that is that in the brown trout the-y have most successfully acclimatised a first rate fish, which can be_ distributed in all our streams and lakes with perfect confidence; therefore it is not advisable to stock the same streams and lakes with an inferior fish that would eat the food of the superior fish.

An attempt was made to introduce another fish held in favour in America—tho white Jish (Corregonns allvi), but without success, as far as is known to the contrary. The _ history of the attempted introduction of tho white fish is given in the .•society's annual report for ISSB, which states that on February S of that year they took •delivery of a tray of white fish ova, imported by the Government from America. The eggs were placed in tho hatching boxes in the usual way, and in about 21 hours the eggs brgan to hatch out rapidly, but about twothirds proved bad. For a time the young fry swam about and appeared very "lively, but by-and-bye began to die so fast that with tho hope of saving some the remainder, about a thousand were turned into the large circular pond. Mr Deans brought 200 or 300 eggs to Opoho, where they hatched out well, but after a short time a considerable number died, and the rest mysteriously disappeared In the society's 1889 report air Deans states that for the purpose of ascertaining whether any of those fish wore alive he, assisted by Mr 13urt, emptied the pond, and found only one solitary specimen, This fish was transferred to the race till tho pond was cleared out, and on returning it to the pond it appeared sickly. The pond was again emptied next morning and the fish, which measured llfin long by Sin deep, was ■ found dead. So ended the experiment of introducing whitefish. In 18S0 1200 white- I fish wore placed in Lake Wakatipu, and there have not been seen since. It has been reported that the fish was seen in Diamond lake {Wakatipu district), but the society lias no information to confirm the report. The white-fish is very highly esteemed in America, where large sums have been expended in propagating the fish. The full-grown fish attain a size equal to 201b to 401b. The experience of other societies throughout the colony has been very similar to that of the Otago Society. The white fish is extremely delicate to cultivate, and although several million ova have been brought to the colony, the white fish is not known to exist This fish has been successfully introduced into England, and there is no reason why it should not be successfully acclimatised in New Zealand. Experience will probably solve the problem that has proved too difficult in tho past. With this article we take leave of the Fisheries court, as far as dealing with New Zealand fishesis concerned. Taldn? both saltwater fishes and freshwater (native and introduced) fishes, the colony stands well in comparison with other countries and we hope to see the New Zealand fisheries before long making themselves known in tho world s markets.