INLAND FISHERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3885, 28 August 1928, Page 17

INLAND FISHERIES.

WELLINGTON, August 23. The report of the Department of Internal Affairs states that in regard to inland fisheries the season’s operations were highly satisfactory. Over 4,000,000 rainbow trout ova were collected in the tributaries of the Tongariro River, the ova being of excellent quality. The magnificent Taupo trout are now being made available for other waters, and should make a great improvement in the stock of such rivers as they are liberated. Of the. above total 1,400,000 eyed ova were sold to acclimatisation societies throughout New Zealand, 1,000,000 to the State Fisheries Department, New South Wales, 75,000 to the salmon and fresh water fisheries’ commissioners of Tasmania, 1,185,000 were sent to the department’s hatchery at Rotorua to be reared and disposed of as fry. At the Tongariro hatchery 365,000 fry were reared from the 376,000 ova hatched, ’ 25,000 being liberated in the waters of the Tongariro National Park and 340,000 in Taupo district waters. In addition 100,000 eyed-ova were received from Lake Hawea (Otago Acclimatisation Society) from which 80,000 fry were reared and liberated in Taupo district waters. At the Rotorua hatchery 912,500 fry were reared from the eyed-ova received from the Tongariro hatchery, 386,500 being liberated in the Rotorua district waters and the remainder sold to acclimatisation societies. Arrangements are being made for the complete renovation of the Rotorua hatchery. A commencement was made on extensive operations for augmenting the food supply in Lake’ Taupo by the liberation of small indigenous fishes. A total of 426,000 fresh water shrimps taken from the Waikato River, near Mercer, were liberated, and arrangements were made for other fishes to be taken at suitable seasons. It must be realised that no immediate result can be expected in. such a large area of water, but it is. hoped to be able to establish the fresh water shrimp, which should in the future provide a valuable addition to the existing food supply. Operations in connection with the collection of data with regard to' scale reading, determining of condition factor, propagation of weed beds, marking. of fish, analysis of waters, etc., were inaugurated, and much valuable knowledge is expected to be derived therefrom. It is believed that as a result of scientific researches it will be possible to deal adequately with many matters that are unfortunately, at present, not properly understood on account of the fact that there have not been adequate records kept of the various matters necessary for research purposes, but acting in conjunction with the expert advisers records are being kept of all such matters. The department has under consideration the erection of huts for anglers in certain localities in the Taupo district.