LAND AND WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 63

LAND AND WATER.

Mr G. M. Thomson, chairman of the Marine Fish Hatchery Board, received from Captain F. W." Hutton, by the last San Francisco mail, an interesting letter dealing with the various kinds of foodfishes met with in the British markets, with reference to the desirability or otherwise of attempting to introduce them into New Zealand -waters. People from the Old Country are very fond of praising up the quality of the- Home fish to the disparagement of the -local sorts. On this point Captain Hutfcon says":— "l am generally disappointed. "I thought, from memory, that- the British fishes were very superior to those of New Zealand, but F'flnd that with two or three exceptions this is a mistake. .The turbot is very superior to anything we have in New Zealand", and seems to bo in season all the year round; but the brill, plaice, and .lemon-sole are distinctly inferior to our flounders, and not worth spending money on in trying to introduce them. The sole proper I can say nothing about, the price being prohibitive to all but the rich: .Codfish is very good, but has the disadvantage of being out of season for nearly eight- months in the year. The haddock is an excellent fish, superior to anything we have in its own line in-tbe colony, and is in season all -the year round, and would be a most useful fish to introduce. Whiting are very delicate) and make a good fish for invalids, but they are nothing like so generally useful as haddock. These appear to be all-- the common fish on the market, and of them I recommend the introduction of the burbot, sole (?), and haddock (especially "the last). The turbot would live, I think, on the coast of Stewart Island, while the haddock would certainly succeed on the coast 1 ' of , the. South Island, wherever the, red-cod/Kves. In fact,_it would live on the cod. to .turn cod into haddock would be a distinct advantage- to "us in' New" Zealand.' . . --. The large, prawn of the English Channel (I do "not know iis name) is delicious,, and well worth making an attempt to introduce. , It would live on our rocky coast",, especially; in the north, and could, I should ' think, be at- Plymouth. Herring and, mackerel ,are, of course; out of the question. Being migratory, they would not stay near a small place like Mew Zealand." Captain Hutton's many friends in Dunedin will learn with regret that. he has been laid up a great part of the time he has been in England. He is_ to sail for jbhe colony on October 5.

In 1 view of the proposal to- introduce the lobster into these waters, it will be of interest to know that the twenty-third annual report of the Scottish Fishery Board gives it an entirely bad character. He is an essentially surly, suspicious, • and unsociable "fish, which regards anyfiiing that comes near it as a foe. The main motive of its activity is defence, and in defending itself a blind, unrelenting vengeance is a fitting corollary. It procures a hole in which to. wait for its prey, and to which to retire after a fight,- and then it is unsafe for any animal to approach it. The fighting tendency makes it difficult to keep lobsfers in confinement. When once they have settled down, howev«r, they will live at peace with one another, but it is only an .armed neutrality.

M r Macadam, of tlie Bant of New Zealand, lias received from his son Logan (who is-, .located in. British Columbia) a fine specimen of a Canadian salmon. The fish has "been sent over frozen, and -was on exhibition in Messrs Wilkie -and Co.'s window on Tuesday, so' that" locaL anglers should have the opportunity -of comparing a real salmon with our, local 1 BToduct. Ai Invercargiil seafisnermannamedilusk. charged- wiih "having 291b of - trout in his possession in the close season, raised as a defence that they were caught beyond the league limit from l*!ew Zealand, and therefore not within the jurisdiction of jthe Crown/ Counsel for the Acclimatisation Society said that might have been a defence "of _a charge laid under th& Sea Fisheries Act. whereas the proceedings were under the Fisheries Conservation Act. For the defence, the Ch:ef Justice's recent decision in a similar case was quoted, and for the universal recognition of the league limit the recent Russo-Japanese war. The magistrate reserved his decision.

A consignment of 10 English pheasants vras received at the Milton Government Poultry Farm on Thursday, 21st ult., from the Wauganui Acclimatisation Society. Th-e birds (seven hens and three cocks) arrived an splendid condition. It is intended (says the Bruce Herald) to breed, from them for northern acclimatisation societies. The Bruce Herald understands that, consequent on the number of accidents which have recently ' occurred at rifle ranges throughout the colony. an inspection is proceeding of the different ranges m the Otago district. It is statad that, as a result of this inspection, Owaka and Kaitangata ranges have been condemned. Mr Aysoa, chief fisheries inspector, is about to liberate a large number of young salmon from the hatcheries at Hakataramea, and will attach small tags to the dorsal fins .of a number of fish for the purpose of identification. This plan is adopted in some other countries, and by if* means fish "that may be taken by those who are not ' experts in distinguishing the salmon from other similar fish' will be identified at once.

As a result of the final of the boxing tournament at the Sydney National Sporting Club on the sth in-t.. the loser, Dug^an, who was defeated by Griffin, of New Zealand, had to be taken to a private- hospital «£ Paddington, gufferine from concussion of

the brain. His condition improved, but the police have taken action in the- matter. Griffin was arrested on the 10th inst., and charged at the Central Police Court with inflicting grievous bodily harm on Dugg;in. The case was remanded.

During the past season 20,000 brown trout fry, 400 Loch Levcn fry, and 500 rainbow yearlings have been liberated in the Shag River. It is understood that a Christelmroh gentleman intends to give a Gordon Bennett Cup, on a small scale, for a. New Zealand reliability motor car competition.

As showing the amount of wagering indulged in at football matches, the Hastings Standard has been informed that at least £100 -changed hands in Hastings over a match on" Saturday week.

SWIMMING.

LONDON, September 27. Kieran, of Sydney, won the 220 yds Championship at Hornsey in 2inin 37sec. Forsyth, holder of the championship, was second. Miss Annette Kellerman, in a diving contest, cut her foiebead on the bottom of the bath. Her wound had to be stitched, but it is not Five members of the New Zealand football team beat a combined Hornsey and Worthing team in a swimming race by five yards.