Introduction of Salmon.

Otago Witness, Issue 1917, 17 August 1888, Page 28

Introduction of Salmon.

Editor Witness. — Sir, — Having at one time tec-n a good deal of salmon and salmon rivers in Scotlaud, and more recently a good deal of the rivers and lakes of New Zealand, I am convinced that the rivers and lakes of the West Coast of the South Island hold out far greater hopes for. the successful acclimatisation of salmon than any others in New Zealand. Lake Ada, near Milford Sound ; Lake M'Kerrow, near Martin's Bay; a small lake at the head of George Sound, with streams flowing into them, are all eminently suitable for the rearing of young salmon. The salmon is a fish that will not swim in every river : for instance, the Whitadder is one of the largest tributaries of the Tweed, entering the latter river at Gainslaw, about four miles above Berwick-on-Tweed. The Tweed, with its other, numerous tributaries, is well stocked with salmon, but salmon will not go up the Whitadder And the same is, I have heard, the case with the Coquet, in Northumberland, — much money hay- ■ ing been spent some years ago by a large landed proprietor in vain attempts to iutroduce salmon to the Coquet. So that if we in New Zealand find salmon won't do in one river we should try another, and as all attempts to introduce them into the rivers on the South and East coasts seems to have failed, I sincerely trust that the Acclimatisation Society wiil, before long, see their way to make systematic efforts to introduce them in the localities I have mentioned on the West Coast. Trout are great enemies of salmon, and their absence in the West Coast waters would be one great advantage not now possessed by most of the streams elsewhere in New Zealand. The matter is so important to the colony at large that the Government might with reason be asked to give some direct assistant. If the West Coast waters were stocked with salmon — and I have •no' doubt it 'could be done — they would certainly produce, at least one million fish a year. If the fish had the same value that salmon used to have, and no doubt still' have at Tweedside, the 1,000,000 fish would sell for about £1,000,000 sterling, and a few hundred pounds spent now in sending competent men to the West Coast to reside there and superintend the rearing of salmon fry, might in a few years bring this wealth to our doors. — I am, &c , St. Clair, August 10. Robert Paulin. '