QUINNAT SALMON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20704, 30 April 1929, Page 8

QUINNAT SALMON.

POOR RUN THIS YEAR. NO SIGN OF RAPID INCREASE. •'{Special to Daiit Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 29. The absence) of the regular run of quinnat salmon.in,the rivers this 'year presents a problem which next year’s season may help to solve. In America a four-yearly cycle has been observed. This is approximately the period which the fish take to reach maturity. It has been noticed that the fish increase in numbers year by year till they reach a maximum after which comes a period of decline. This refers principally to the sockeye salmon, which are the variety most used for tinning. They are also called the red salmon oi, account of their flesh, or the blue back salmon. The quinnat, however, are the largest and the best of the Pacific salmon and are not dissimilar in their habits. The sockeye salmon have not become generally established in New Zealand, though they were introduced into' Lake Ohau, where they are becoming smaller in-size and are showing proof that they intend to take to the sea, as they do in their native waters. The majority of quinnat salmon that come up the rivers are four years old and some as voung as two or three years. This is the* explanation offered of the four-year cycle which is found in America, and to 'which the fish are probably reverting in New .Zealand. The Waimakariri had the worst run of all the Canterbury rivers this year, and the Rangitata the best. There the fisli were larger, though fewer in numbers, than in previous years. 'Jhe largest fish caught during the season was taken in the Rangitata and weighed 471 b. At present the fish are spawning far up the rivers, and though the season lasts till May 15 only a few late running fish will be taken at the .month. Generally speaking the Pun inis been a very poor, one this year. Tite Government hoped when the fish were first introduced that it would be possible to start canneries for local (onsumption. It appears unlikely now that the fish will ever be found in sufficient numbers in New Zealand. They are confined principally to the Canterbury snow rivers,, which are much smaller than the Fraser, Sacramento and Columbia of the Pacific Coast. Though the fish, were introduced 30 to 25 years ago and have been fished since 102.*? t.hete is no sign of a rapid increase, They' are helped by artificial hatching m the Government hatcheries at Hakataramea, but even so it is found- that anglers are taking sufficient toll without the netting that is used where the fish are canned ' Of the five varieties of Pacific salmon the quinnat is the largest and best, but it still remains to be seen whether thev are thoroughly established in New Zealand. They seam to show a prefcren.se for the big snow rivers and avoid rain rivers like the Ashley. It may be possible to establish them on the West Coast, though the rapid fall and. swift current of the West Coast Rivers make ascent difficult for the fish.