TROUT AND BIRDS AT LAKE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1931, Page 7

TROUT AND BIRDS AT LAKE

7 STOCKING MANGAMAHOE.

SPORTSMEN'AND COUNCIL CONFER

The stocking of the Mahgamahoe dam with.trout and birds was discussed by the New Plymouth Borough Council last evening. The views of sportsmen in Taranaki were given by a deputation from the Taranaki Acclihiatisation Society.’ There had- been some question about the liberation of trout in the Mangamahoe dam, said Mr. W. R. Johns (chairman of the society). The society had consulted its curator, who had said many reservoirs in England Were stocked with trout without detriment to the water. The society would like to stock the lake with As it happened, the streams feeding the lake wbre already stocked with trout and the trout Would naturally come to the lake arid increase. The society would suggest that fishing should not be allowed till the. beginning of 1932. What would be a much greater menace to the water supply, said Mr, Johns, were the eels that might come in the lake. The society’s curator pointed out that the female eels went to deep water, such as the middle of the Pacific, to sperm. If, working down stream or overland, they came to cold, deep water, such as the dam, they might stay and hibernate there. The eel had hosts of parasites. The society suggested that if the council had a curator at the dam he might catch the eels. With regard to duck and water birds at the dam, said Dr. Adamson, there was no doubt that at certgin times of the year the lucks would come to the dam, so he would not recommend stocking the lakes artificially with ducks. Other water birds would come. There was the shag, for instance, a very dirty bird, and it was not desirable for them to be there. The council might permit its curator at the dam to shoot them and keep them away. Another way to deal with hem was.to use pole ti’aps, with gins at the top of posts in the water.

Fish and birds at the dam would have no effect on the dripkihg water. People had drunk for centuries from water populated with fish and stocked with birds. The water upply at Waitara was unfiltered and excellent water for drinking. There were only two or. three diseases, such as cholera and enteric, of which the germs were bprn in water, and the danger of these under modern health conditions was very small. Further the fish destroyed an enormous amount of bacteria and insects’ eggs and would be an advantage rather than a disadvantage. The society did not favour making the lake a game sanctuary, but the council of course had power to make necessary regulations. He had inspected the dam and wished to congratulate th. council on the addition of another beautiful place to its charming town. In thapking the deputation for its iriterelst, the Mayor (Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths) said that the council had already come to a decision to stock the lake with trout, subject to the approval of t.-c health authorities. As for the duration of the first close season the council had thought of making it two years, but would consider the advice of the society. He thanked the society for its offer to stock the river. The council decided to hold a close season until -the beginning of 1932. Cr. G- M. Spence gave notice of motion to rescind the application to the Minister of Internal Affairs. that the dam should be a sanctuary. The council is to write’ to the Taupo authorities asking for speciiriens of their regulations. The electrical engineer was instructed to confer with Dr. Adamson regarding methods of gettirig rid of eels and shags. .