THE MARINE FISH HATCHERY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12385, 21 June 1902, Page 10

THE MARINE FISH HATCHERY.

THE ADVISORY BOARD APPOINTED,. Aftor wlyit havo seemed interminable delays, the scheme for the establishment of a marine fish hatchery and biological station, inaugurated by the Otago Institute some six years ago, has now advanced anothor stage, and tve may look shortly for tlio ercction of the necessary buildings. These . will be em a modest scale at the beginning, but if the felieinc justifies itself, as it is confidently believed it will do, further additions will be made as they aro required. Tlio original proposal ivas to erect the station at Purnkanui. and the channel of tho inlet, together with a considerable area of tho foreshore 011 its northern side, wore set aside as a reserve for this purpose. But after closer examination and moro mature consideration it was rosolved to abandon this site, chiefly 011 account of its comparative inaccessibility aud also liability to overflows of fresh water, and to rceommend one in the lower -harbour. After looking over all the available localities, and testing the purity and salinity of the water, Quarry Point, at tlm end of the Portobcllo Peninsula, facintj Quarantine Island, was selected. The land is part of a reservo original!" set a-iie- for defence purposes, but r,ul):;et)uoiitly l:r.nM over to the Portobcllo Public Library Trustees, and leased by them to Mr Portc-rlicld. .A"small..area, suScient for the requirements of the station nnd the caretaker's residence, has been leased by the Government, and an advisory board has been appointed, awl was gazetted on the 12th inst. This board consists of the following gentlemen:— Messrs David Barron (Chief Surveyor), C. \V. S. Chamberlain (Collector of f'uetoms), Robert Ohisholm (representing the Otago Acclimatisation Society). C. E. W. Fleming (Superintendent of Mercantile Marine), and (icorge M. Thomson (representing the Otago Institute!. Its first meeting is to be held on Tuesday, 24th inst., in the office of the Collector of Customs. Mr Ayson (Inspector of Fisheries) will be in Dunedin at the end of the month to confer with' the board, and steps will be at. .onw taken to proceed with tlm oreelion of the station.