Efforts To Establish Fishing Waters In Wanganui District

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 May 1949, Page 4

Efforts To Establish Fishing Waters In Wanganui District

“The outstanding feature of the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society's activities for tlig year has been the enthusiasm shown and the work accomplished by the Fish Committee,” states the president, Mr. H. Manguson, in his annual report, to be presented at the meeting on Thursday night.

"Following the recommendation ol the previous annual meeting, the council decided to proceed with an effort to re-establish fishing waters in the district," Mr. Manguson adds. “Supplies of rainbow yearlings were purchased from the federation hatchery at Inglewood, and these were supplemented by the gift of a further substantial quantity Hom the lederation. Tlie approximate liberations were Kowhata Lpke 20,000 and Paure Lake 10,000. The liberations were carried out without loss and were a tribut e to the good work of Mr. J. Miller, curator of the hatchery. “It is rather early to say whether the stocking of these lakes is a complete success, but, lor research purposes, several of the young fish have been taken from the lakes and returned to the water alter examination. They appear to be making satisfactory progress. Kowhata Lake is comparative!) free from natural enemies of the young trout, but Paure is not so good. The mortality rat e in' young ii-41 is liign, but allowance was made for this when the decision was made to stock these lakes. “A further liberation of 10,000 rainbow yearlings in Kowhata Lake will be made within the near future. If a normal rate of growth is experienced, it is expected that a limited amount of fishing will be possible in tlie 1051-52 season. “The Mangawhero River is also claiming the attention of the Fish Committee. In years past this stream provided quite fair hsliing, but received serious set backs by reason ot bush fires, and excessive measure of silt pollution due to road construction. Fish have stilt survived and it was decided to liberate some brown yearlings to increase the local stocks. "Fiv e thousand yearlings were purchased, and again the quantity was substantially supplemented through the generosity of the federation. These lish were liberated at the beginning of April of this year. The result of this liberation wiil be watched before any further liberations are mad e in stream,” the report states. "Research ofiicers of the Marine Department have visited all the coastal lakes in this area and examined them closely to ascertain whether they are suitable for liberation of other species of fish. They expressed favourable opinions of the general quality of the lakes, but of course it will take considerable time to collect and analyse the data necessary before any policy can be determined. If any action is taken by the department we hope some of our lakes will be the fl ret to receive attention.”