TAUPO AND ROTORUA FISHING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3149, 22 July 1914, Page 77

TAUPO AND ROTORUA FISHING.

(From Our Own Coksesponuent.) WELLINGTON, July 15. The report from the internal Affairs Department shows , that excellent' work was done in the lakes by killing off the ill-conditioned fish. In eight months 18,271 fish were killed by the department in Rotorua and 2830 in Taupo, of a weight of nearly 24 tons. With a view to reducing the number of trout in Lake Rotorua, netting operations were carried out by the department during the whole of the present fishing season, large hauls being made daily. Both the fresh and smoked fish have found a ready market in Auckland and Rotorua. At Taupo netting has been carried on during the searon with very successful results, a ready sale being found for the Taupo trout in Wellington, while several large orders from Christ-, church and smaller orders from farther south have been dealt with with every success. The returns of good fish sold show a total number of 32,094, weighing nearly 26 tons. The good and bad fish caught numbered 53,195, of a weight of 60 tons. With regard to increasing the food supply, so far fresh-water shrimps have been the only food supply introduced into both lakes. In 1907 a shipment of San -Francisco herring ova was imported, but it was a complete failure, all of it being bad when opened up on landing. When in England in 1908, Mr Ayson made inquiries respecting the minnow, but both English and Continental authorities advised against its introduction. Since the department took over these fisheries 280,000 shrimps have been brought from Mercer and placed in Lake Rotorua, and a further 110,000 in Lake Taupo—all these in sheltered places. The shrimps werq liberated in Lakes Rotorua and Taupo in places where they would be safe from the trout and would have an opportunity to breed. They are stated to be more prolific than the koura, and those anglers who know anything about the species are of opinion that what has been done regarding a fresh food supply season is a step in the right direction. With the visit of Professor Prince opportunity is being taken to ascertain what special foods should be introduced in order that a plentiful supply may be arranged for next season. The study of the worm parasite has been continued by the Veterinary Department. Fifteen hun-dred-and six shags were destroyed during the season, and 1,229,000 rainbow ova and trout fry were sold to acclimatisation societies. Large, quantities of ova and fry were also liberated by the Tourist Department.