FISH CULTURE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13992, 30 August 1909, Page 4

FISH CULTURE.

Mr Ti. F. Ayson, the Chief Inspector of Fisheries, lias recently given to the Wellington '"Evening Post,'' some particulars which are of great interest to those who are interested in fish culture. It is well known that the Fisheries Department has had wonder--I'iil success .in the acclimatisation of trout in all the rivers and many of the lakes ot' New Zealand.. This success was soon attained, and Mr Ay son then turned his attention to the introduction and breeding of salmon. Roughly speaking, salmon can he divided under two heads —the "All Red" or-British salmon, known as the Atlantic, arid greatly renowned as the king of .sporting fish ; and the Pacific, generally spqkeu of as the California!! salmon; which is, well known as a commercial fish of great value. It will interest our readers to he reminded that young of the British salmon were turned into the waters of South Canterbury 'as long ago as the eighties—and were never seen again. A like fate befell those liberatel in other parts of the colony; and the non-success attending shipment after shipment of ova, which were successfully hatched and turned out in our livers, has been cause for wonder in fishing circles. Mr Ayson, apparently, wasted no time in regrets, but turned his attention to the Pacific salmon, and in a very few years has had the great satisfaction of seeing the Sal mo Quin-, nat flourish exceedingly, increasing and multiplying even beyond his most, san* guine expectations. For this in great measure the people have to thank Mr Ayson, for the very complete- arrangements he made at the now famous hatcheries at Hakatarnmea. He early recognised that the Waitaki was an ideal salmon river, and that on its^t'l"'- 1 bntary, the Hakatarainea. was tha

place to plant the breeding ponds. From these tho young salmon when well grown were turned out in the Waitakiy and from tin's river they have migrated to other streams, and are now so well established that Mr Ayson is able to make the authoritative statement that "in all probability there will he no necessity to import any more qninnat salmon ova into New Zealand, as there is reason to believe that future supplies can he obtained from the fish in South Island rivers." This conclusion is fortified by practical results, for from the Waitaki river and its tributaries the Marine Department last year, collected '238,000 ova. The success Sf» finally attained after a few years op care, has led Mr Ayson to the belief that the qninnat has a big future in New Zealand. He has all along been working with the commercial end in view, the aim which was emphasised as the proper one in an article in this column some months ago. Mr Ayson is working on right lines, for it is time that the people as a whole saw some return for the thousands of pounds which the Government have expended on fish culture —in the shape of salmon bred in New Zealand, netted in her. waters, and exposed for sale in the open market. Here it should be in good demand, and very quickly displace the California)! variety whicK finds its way into the. colony in tins in, such large quantities. From the sporting point of view there will be some who will not welcome the qninnat; but with trout so plentiful^

usually, and with quinnat also taking the bait, in certain waters, there ample opportunity for the thorough enjoy himself. In fnture Mr Ayson may see his way 1 clear to turn his attention once more to the British salmon; and with the experience gained by working with its Amor: can cousin who knows hut that he may at last achieve success?