THE MARINE REPORT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13985, 19 August 1907, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE MARINE REPORT.

THE PORTOBELLO HATCHERY. . WELLINGTON, August 7. ifio Marine Department report contains tno following remarks about the Portobollo manno hatchery:-A report received from the Hatohcry Board shows that during, ftc year two shipments of live blisters wore reeved from England by the s.s. Kaipara, ™J* y havo beCn 01ll T a Partial success. The board, however, considering the experience gained warranted such a course, has arranged for another shipment by the same vessel. . There are now nine lobsters alive and healthy in the ponds at the hatchery. The hoard has been in correspondence direct and through tho Hiph Commissioner with various authorities in the United Kingdom on the subject of sea fish, their mode of propagation, transport, etc., and Dr Allen, Scientific Superintendent at the Marine Biological Laboratory at Plymouth, and Dr T. Wemyss Fulton, Scientific Superintendent to the Scottish Fisheries Board, are now engaged in making cxpeviraemfe in regard to the above matters in the inlerosta of the board. Several millions of ova of New Zealand food fishes, principally soles and flounders, have been fertilised and hatched out at the station and liberated in Otogo Harbour. In connection with this, the board states that it is under considerable obligation to Mr F, J, Sullivan, who has allowed the members of the board and the hatchery curator the use of his trawling steamers and appliances, without which very little could havo been done in the way of obtaining deep-sea fish and their ova for observation. The station has three largo saltwater ponds, a concrete tank holding 17,000 gallons, a suitable building containing tho hatchery, laboratory, acquarium, worbhop. and other conveniences, a cottage for the curator, and a jetty. There is also a full supply'of the most modern hatching boxes, jars, and other soientifio and practical appliances, together with means for fining, emptying, and aerating the-■pqjidS'Sndj.tanks, sm -a. wry ; complete

system of water supply. Tho laboratory has been filled with the necessary apparatus for making and recording observations. The High Commissioner in London having been requested to make inquiry as to the feasibility of introducing the herring and one other kind of fish (either cod, haddock, or turbot) into ,the colony, ho has arranged with the Fishery Board of Sootloud for Professor T. Wemyss Fulton, its soientifio superintendent-, to make experiments as to whether the development of herring ova can bo retarded suffiicently long to enable them to bo brought to the colony. _ If possible, he will also arrange for similar experiments to be made with cither cod, haddock, or turbot ova.