TROUT AT MASTERTON.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11735, 18 September 1906, Page 4

TROUT AT MASTERTON.

Masterton, September 17. With reference to the report that certain fish at the Masterton trout hatchery are suffering from a cancerous growth, Mr W. D. Ayson, the Curator, stated that the growth was a tumor called "Gill Disease," and was frequently found in fish kept in hatcheries for spawning purposes. Tbe disease had only been'contracted by a few of the fish at the hafceheries, and was not at all general. Those suffering from the growth were being experimented upon by Mr Gilruth, the Chief Government Veterinarian. The cause of tbe disease was due to the lack of certain natural food. Fish in their natural state, through preying upon one another obtained pancreas or sweet bread food, which was necessary to healthy thriving. The fish at the hatcheries had been partially fed with animal pancreas, but this did not appear to be a satisfactory substitute for the pancreas of fish.