NEW TROUT HATCHERY

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXV, Issue 3348, 24 August 1935, Page 2

NEW TROUT HATCHERY

BENEFIT FOR FUTURE SEASONS

TWO) MILLION ANNUAL OUTPUT 4. chain from the head of a tributary #J the Little Waipa River at Puketu-tt-ua, members of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society have constructed a modern trout hatchery which will assure a certain supply of fishing ±or .fcrture seasons. The Hatchery was opened recently at a ceremony attended l>y members of the society, mcuclhxx a number from Cambridge. ihe society's ranger, Mr J. -Dobson, spent many months in search of a suitme site for such an important undertaking, and at last foud a stream of Mn water which did not. flood and allien had practically constant ternconstant that the tonfeature did not vary from the ho test vumfhs of last summer to midwinter Work on the hatchery,, winch will feve an output of from two to three fry in an ordinary season, commenced in the middle of June Ihe majority of the work wa« .carried out fcv the voluntary help of numerous subpieties and indicated the keen enithusiasm of fishermen throughout the .country, Mr H. Kingscott is now in #harge of operations. A dam was constructed above the hatchery and provision made for a continuous flow of water, estimated at Lh pillion gallons a dav-or efficient to mvi*Y * town the 3ize of ra,nbndgc the building. The trout ova jire placed in trays, each containing ~e*eral thousand, and when hatched they drop into boxes where three .jseeks later they will be ready to take artificial fed. From the hatchery the Xrr will be sent to stock streams in the -society's area, which stretches from •Wellslord to Taumarunui. With the quantity of water available at the stream it is the intention if a »mnbcr of sub-societies to • erect a scries of holding ponds beneath the a«tchery capable of taking 200,000 fish to «*« s« months old stage, when they fldil Ibe liberated in the fishing waters. M iprescnt the hatchery is carrying *O<M»O ova and fry, or about a third of its capacity, and is capable of externa©* to hold many million fry. The <w% were sent from the Department of Eternal Affairs at Taupo and arrived -m two batches, one on August 2 aad <ao*tli©r of 70,000 on Friday last. It *s anticipated that the 300,000 fry will $e ready for liberation in the various stream* in the society's area in three -weeks' time. Many sub-societies possess holding ponds to keep the fry to the-yearling stage. The construction of the hatchery, which is the only one in the Auckland Acclimatisation Society's area, should result in a great increase in the num&cr of fish available in the future and *fter an extensive• three years' stocking policy, when the fish will reach the 12 inch limit, anglers should be assured »f good fishing throughout the area.