SALMON AND TROUT

Southland Times, Issue 19655, 4 October 1922, Page 5

SALMON AND TROUT

HATCHERY IN TOWN PROPOSAL BEFORE BOROUGH COCNCIL The probability of a hatchery for Atlantic salmon and trout ova being established by the Southland Acclimatisation Society was strengthened last night by the action of the Borough Council, which received a fetter from the Society stating the and passed favourable recommendations from committees, and appointed the Mayor and two Councillors to meet the Society and arrange detail*, which will be reported to lhe next meeting the Council. The Society in its letter to the Council stated that it had sold its Mataura Hatchery property and was desirous of securing a more suitable location elsewhere. It. had been suggested that a mutually advantageous agreement might be made with the Borough Council for a rite in the Southeastern portion of Victoria Park. The So* ciery required an area of say four acren with security of tenure and a sufficient supply of pure water for hatching ova during the months June to DeceiutMfr. The Society would undertake to sink a six-inch bore at a suitable place suggested by Mr Clapcott, instal the necessary plant for pumping and jufter using the water it could be utilised for ornamental ponds m conforinity with the existing plan of Parit improvements. The electrical energy toquired for the pump could lie drawn from the municipal generating station off peak hours. After the season's hatching was finished in December the pumping plant could be made available to the Borough as an additional source of supply during the midsummer months. The hatchery building and curator’s dwelling could In* constructed of such materials on approved plans us would tnaka them available for the Council, should ihs Society have to terminate the arrangement at any time, in which case it was suggested that vaulation upon an agreed basis should In? incorporated in any agreement reached. As the chief desideratum for the Society’* operations was an assured supply of suitable water it would be necessary to pass it through aerating reservoirs. At prewent an actual test was being conducted with the town water, and it promised to be satisfactory from a pisciculturist’s point of view. Councillor Preddy, chairman of the Reserves Committee, spoke of the proposal, wfiich was discussed by the Acclimatisation Society on Monday evening, and ah*» by a deputation from the Society to his committee. He supported the Committee’s recommendation that the Society’s request be favourable consideration, stating that die scheme proposed would be an advantage to the Council in several ways. It would b<Xbf great educational value, and would improve the ornamentation of the reserve. The hatchery would be built on a modern plan with shrubs surrounding, which would make it a beauty spot, would have to be passed this session to give the necessary authority so he urged the need for hasteCouncillor Mackrell seconded the motion, and requested that clause 1 of the waler committee’s report be embodied. He said the deputation from the Society had waited on the water Committee, and the projNisal was that the water should be pumped up from the Society’s Ixire at night and used during the day. The whole scheme seemed to him to be quite good, and he suggested that if the clauses were put through a small committee could be set up to meet representatives of the Society, and decide upon a definite arrangement. It seemed that the Society had not yet definitely decided upon the det ails of what they wanted, and the Council did not know either. would be a waste of time tor the Council to make a suggestion and then for the Society to make another. Councillor Miller .‘■aid the Council should keep an eye on the possibility of the Council needing all the waler in the reservoirs. It would not do in that case for the Acclimatisation Society to have the right io take some <;f the water. Councillor Glass suggested that the committee to met* the Society and deal with the matter need not be a large one. He nominated the Mayor and the chairman of the respective committees, Councillors Freddy and Mac This was agree-d to, and the recojnmeiraation3 by the two committees on the subject were adopted and the contmitt.ee appointed a« suggested.