BANK NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1952, 23 July 1891, Page 29

BANK NOTES.

As the Otago Acclimatisation Society are thinking about importing lobsterß and crabs into this colony, it may be worth their while to get Borne information on the subject from tbe Canadian Government before going to much expanse in the way of exparimente. A large basking shark waa recently caught in Traleo Bay. The fish weiarhed about five tons, and measured abont 37ft in length. Daring the night it became entangled in the mackerel nets of the fishing smaok Perseverance, and it took the crew over four hours to dispose of the monster. The nets were completely destroyed. A correspondent writes to a contemporary alluding to the wonderful sport bad in Tasmania: — "The following reoord of trout caught in the Great Lake, Tasmania, during a week's fishing in Maron of this year, may not be without interest to your readers. The party consisted of the Governor (Sir Robert Hamilton), Mr Seal, Mr Robinson, and Mr H. Hamilton. The total number of fiah caught waa 54, of which 21 were caught in the lake, and 24 in the Shannon, which runs out of 'the lake. The weights and averages wera as follows :— ln the lake, 21 fish, weighing 2551b, average 12£lb ; in the Shannon, 24 fish, weighing 77&1b, average 31b 3oz. All these fish were caught by spinning, and mostly with the natural bait. The largest fish caught in the lake weighed 191b, the largest caught in the Shannon weighed 91b."— Land and Water. In Franca wa know that they "shoot ye fox," but it appears that Gallic sportsmen also *' Bhoot ye fish," for we hear of a certain M. Alexandra Berhardin, of Wasay, who in a week shot no fewer thaa 15 pike, weighing in the aggregate 1101b, It is said that he invariably bagged a brace of fish for each cartridge expended, and this ia explained by the fish being shot when in tbe act of spawning 1 Pretty sport, indeed ! But, then, what may we not expect from ya Gallic sportsmen when we hear of a mixed bag consisting of robins, tomtits, thrushes, sparrows, besides a brood of young partridges unable to fly, and ehot on the ground, being hailed with the greatest enthusiasm, and looked upon aa one of tbe greatest delicacies of theaeason? When Mr Crapaud went fishing in the close season, carefully concealed behind a tall fringe of reedß, and hooked a teal instead of a fi9h, did he release it so that it might return to it 3 young brood ? Not he ; he took it to the nearestcoffee shop and ate it, and no doubt found it an agreeable change to the wretched victims slaughtered above. Pitetty sport, indeed !— Land and Water. Encouraged by the successful experiments in the hatching of cod and lobsters by the Government of Newfoundland, tbe Canadian Government now propose to bagin similar work on a vary larga scale. Tha superintendent of Canadian fisheulture, Mr Samuel Wilmot, visited Newfoundland to see the practical workings and results of Superintendent Nieleen's methods. The Dominion Government intends to protect these fisheries aa well aa to improve them by artificial cultivation. Injurious methods of fishing will be prevented and the rig of fishing apparatus established by law. At the Newfoundland hatching establishment in Placentia Bay 17,000,000 young cod were planted in the waterß of the bay, representing more than 50 per cent, of the whole number of eggs taken. Over 400,000,000 young lob3ters were planted in Newfoundland waters, of whioh all but 15,000,000 were credited to the floating incubators invented by Mr Adolph Nielsen.

LOBSTERS, CRABS, AND OYSTERS.

Ihe following paper was read by B(Ir G. P. Clifford at the last meeting of the Acclimatisation Society :—

Some years since I suggested to the society the desirability of introducing lobsters, crabs, and oysters (those known as natives). The society eutered into correspondence with people in-England, and they expressed the opinion that neither lobsters or crabs could be brought, the reason assigned being " that they would kill each other by clawing onto one another." I pointed out that that objection could be obviated, but it was thought advisable not to attempt their in* troduction, and the matter was allowed to drop. In the year 1872 I visited England and remained at Home for four years. I visited all the aquariums and studied as far as I could the habit of lobsters, crabs, and oysters, and the result was that I constructed a tank about sft long by 4ft wide and 4ft deep, the top covered with a wire net frame. In it I placed pieces of jagged rock so adjusted as to leave spaces between the stones; these I battened down so as to be immovable. I fitted a pair of rockers to the bottom of the tank so as to form a cradle. I was fortunate in being able to get power close at hand so as to rock the tank, giving it constant motion as on board ship. I pat 24 lobsters in of different sizes, taking care that they were perfect fish. A plug at the bottom of the tank enabled the water to be drawn off and freshwater given daily. Every day they were fed with bones, which they picked clean. The food they preferred was putrid fish, but it was rarely given, as it was offensive and made the water foul ; the picked bones were removed every day. At the end of six weeks every fish was as perfect and in as good condition as the day they were put in the tank, and many of them had a large quantity of eggs. I did not try crabs, but all the fishermen I talked with expressed the opinion that crabs could be easier to carry than lobsters.

Unfortunately I was burnt out »t Christcharch in 1885, losing all my papers and notes (the collection of years) or I could give my daily observations extending over the six weeks I had the lobsters in confinement. As it is, I can only speak from memory. It was very interesting to see the lobsters crawling amongst the rocks like so many spiders. I never noticed them quarrel except over their food. I kept a record of the temperature of the water daily, which I lost with my papers, but I caa speak with sertainty that the temperature was often up to 50deg and I believe higher. The only difficulties that I can see that may have to be met in attempting to bring lobsters or crabs from a distance are: First, in some latitudes the sea water is very much salter than at others. This may be objectionable. Secondly, in the tropics the temperature of the water may be ton high. Both these difficulties, I think, can be overcome if the attempt is made in a ship that has refrigerating apparatus, as the snow that is made ceuld be n eed to lower the temperature, and correct the saline nature of the water. As to oysters, although we have oysters in large quantities, and of good quality, still the objection is they are too large, the oysters known as natives being perfection.

I would beg to draw attention to the fact that when Mr Dawbin brought out the salmon eva some years since, the late Mr Frank Backland pat some oysters on board, and as they were not protected the sailors got at them and ate all but two or three, which arrived in good condition. This was on a sailing ship, without a refrigerator. May not lobsters and crabs be able to Btacid what oysters can ? Could lobsters or srabr. be introduced, there is no doubt they would thrive wonderfully, as much of our coast is particularly suited to them, and they would be well able to hold their own with the crayfish, of which we have such numbers.