THE SALMON EXPERIMENT

Otago Witness, Issue 905, 3 April 1869, Page 4

THE SALMON EXPERIMENT

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times.

Sir — I have read with some interest a letter under this head, rpprinted by you from the Hobart Town Mercury, in which the writer suggests the advisability of introducing minnows and \ a ious descriptions of flies aa food for salmon and trout. Believing such introductions to be unnecessary, our requirements in these perticulars being abundantly supplied, perhaps a few observations on the subject may interest your readers at the present time, when the expected daily arrival of a second consignment of salmon ova from England lends additional charm to matters connected with the fish.

From past experience, I had come to the conclusion that minnows were only useful in running water, and that even then their advantages were questionable — in lakes and ponds positively injurious. Seeing, however, a letter, a^out three years ago, advocating the introduction of these fish, evidently emanating from the same judicial pen, I communicated -with, parties in England respecting the advisability of their introduction here, amongst whom was Mr M. Stoddart, who kindly made every inquiry amongst his piscicultural friends, resulting in the unanmoua condemnation of these fish, as not answering the desired purpose ; probably to be accounted for by the fact of the minnow devouring the same description of insect food as the trout.

Our streams are already stocked both here and in Tasmania with a little native fish, for which the trout have shown a great partiality, and being of sluggish habits, and devoid of teeth, probably in some respects superior to the minnow.

In addition to other varieties peculiar to the New Zealand waters, we possess a small description of smelt, breeding at the mouths of rivers, the young fry -working their way up stream in countless shoals, and stocking every little ditch and watercourse, and affording a delicious delicacy under the title of whitebait, the value of which our Tasmanian friends will ere long be also able to appreciate. Thß Society have recently forwarded to Hobart Town upwards of 150 whitebait, which, thanks to the judicious care of Capt. Thompson, have been, successfully landed.

As to insect food, our haters where suitable to their development, are literally teeming with ia&ect life, and include the varieties named by the writer, as the most valuable— the ephemeras and the phryganeie. Hitherto, however, I have not been, "able to meet with the little water insect, the fresh-water pulex or screw, so valuable for fish food. The value of Crustacea for fish food appears to pose the writer, who has only to dissect the stomachs of a few fish to perceive one of the important parts that water-snails supply in the economy ©f nature; our fresh-water varieties are similar, though much smaller than those found in England, but appear to make up in abundance what they lack in size.

What we do need in our rivers, to make them better adapted for the future home of the salmon and trout, is not the introduction of new food, but facilitating those conditions under -which suitable food can be developed, a reßult readiest attained by the planting >: trees along the shelterless banks of our streams, and providing still water-pools as accessories to our rapid rivers. — Your obe. dienfc servant,

A. M. Johnsok, Curator. Acclimatisation Gardens, Christchurch.

" My dear sir," aaid a candidate, accosting a sturdy wag on the day of election, "I am very glad to see yon." " You needn't be f " replied the wag j "I've voted."