SALMON AND TROUT.

West Coast Times, Issue 661, 6 November 1867, Page 3

SALMON AND TROUT.

(Continued from our last.) Nor has the progress of the trout under the charge of the Commissioners been less gratifying than that of the salmon. In the month of June, 1866, these fish, being then about two years old, began to shed their first spawn, and during the courseof the season several thousands of their ova were secured, which, after being duly fecundated, were placed in the hatching boxes attached to the ponds. One portion of these ova was subsequently despatched to Melbourne for the use of the Acclimatization Society of Victoria; another was forwarded to J Launeeston to the care of an association 1 of gentlemen which had been formed with the object o" promoting the early stocking of the rivers of the northern division of the colony with salmon and trout ; and the remainder were retained in the ponds for hatching uuaer Mr Ramsbotton's observation. The result of this first attempt to propagate fish from ova produced in the colony was unfortunate. The hatching-boxes prepared for tho reception of £he ova forwarded to Victoria having been erected on a spot which proved to be subject to inundation, were

shortly afterwards with their contents swept away by a flood. Of those despatched to Launceston, although conveyed by Mr Eamsbottom in person, a large number perished on the way. From the remainder only a few living trout were produced, and these after attaining a considerable size were, as in Victoria, carried away by an overflowing of the stream near which hatch-ing-boxes had been constructed ; from those retained under Mr Ramsbottom's immediate charge about forty young trout only have been obtained, which will to that extent add to the number of breeding fish for the season of 1868. A large share in this unproductiveness is attributable to causes which are now understood, and will not be allowed to influence future attempts to increase the number of this fish. During ihe past year many of the parent trout detained in the ponds, and still move thoso at large in the Plenty, have increased in size and weight at a surprising, and the Commissioners believe unprecendented, rate. In June last a male trout was found dead in the Plenty, evidently killed in an encounter with some of its associates during the exciting season of spawning, which measured 19£ inches iv length, and weighed 3J lbs. On the 29tbTof July last another was captured alive by Air Kamsbottom, of which the length was 22J inches, and the weight fully four pounds, although the fish was then in a spent and consequently lean condition, having but recently shed its milt. If in full condition Mr Rarnsbottoni estimates that the weight of this fish would have been between five and six pounds. Many others have been seen in the Plenty of similar dimensions, and some of those confined in the ponds are little inferior to them, although the trout set at liberty in the river and left to provide for themselves have always been somewhat iv advance of their brethren imprisoned in the ponds, where they have been carefully and diligently fed. The trout thus greatly increased ia size began to spawn again for the second time in. the rivulet attached to the pond on June 23 ; and, at the same time, some of those at large in the adjoining river were observed busily engaged in forming their 'nests and depositing their ova. The season of spawning extended over a period of about six weeks — terminating on August 6. On this occasion the fish were permitted to deposit a large portion of their spawn in the natural wa*f, the remainder only being for artificial propagation. While the spawning was going on the parent fish readily passed from the pond into the rill ; aud, when the operation was completed, a considerable extent of the little stream was to be seen thickly studded with their nests. Before the spawning began Mr Eamsbottom had erected a temporary wooden screen close to the bank of the rivulet, from behind which the whole interesting process was j watched by him, and clearly seen by some of the Commissioners and many other I visitors, without distuibing the fish during j their operations. Although a larae portion of the ova was left undisturbed in the gravel in which they were deposited by the parent fish, the number of ova obtained for artificial hatching exceeds the total produce of the preceding season. From the store thus obtained about 1300 have been despatched to the care of the Victorian Acclimatization Society in Melbourne, which, with a loss of about 25 per cent., are now iv a thriving and prosmising condition in i,he pond prepared for their reception. A supply of about 800 has also been placed in the hands of Mr Johnson, Secretary to the Acclimatization Society of Christchurch, in New Zealand, whom the council of the society had judiciously despatched to this colony for the purpose of receiving in person the contribution promised to them. Mr Johnson at the same time took charge of a smaller supply 400 in number, for the use of the kindred society in the neighbouring Province of Otago. From both of these provinces liberal contributions in aid of the enterprise in which this colony is engaged had been received.' (Continued in ytage £.J

Sakhox.— • (Continued from gage 3J A fish pond, with hatching boxes atattached, has been formed during the present year on the estate of Strathmore, on the South Esk, under the direction of Mr Charles M' Arthur, who has long taken a warm interest in the establishment of salmon and trout in Tasmania, and took a leading part in the attempt of last year, unfortunately unsuccessful, and of Mr Cox, of Clarendon. This spot was last year inspected by Mr Ramsbottom, who pronounced it admirably adapted for the purpose of fish culture, and a convenient centre from which the means of stocking the other rivers in the North might be supplied. Concurring with Mr Eamsbottom's views on this subject and having received an assurance and guarantee that they would be tended with all necessary care and attention, 1200 ova were lately handed over to Mr M' Arthur, who had come in person to receive them, and have been by that gentleman safely conveyed to their destination, and placed in the hatching boxes at Strathmore with the most trifling loss. The ova thus supplied have been received by Mr M' Arthur and Mr Cox on the distinct understanding that they were a public and not a private charge, and that the future disposition of their produce should be under the control of the Commissioners. The Commissioners -conceive that from a centre such as that now established at Strathmore, when fully stocked, the other rivers of the North may be stocked much more conveniently and inexpensively, and with less waste of ova than from the ponds at the Plenty. In the meantime, and until this source becomes productive, the Commissioners will be prepared to tlie utmost of their ability to furnish the supplies for other approved localities, as well in the North as in the South, where they are assured that adequate means for the due hatching of the ova and the preservation of their produce have been provided. During the ensuing summer the Commissioners propose to place a small body of young trout in the North- West Bay River, which has all the attributes of a fine trout stream, and to which they can be conveyed by water with facility and safety. Since the date of their last report the Commissioners have made several inexpensive improvements in the establishment at the Plenty, of which the most important have been the completion of the small pond therein referred to, and the formation of a new rill, rendered necessary by the addition of the salmon trout to their charge. During the ensuing summer some further extension of the same kind will be required. Although the water bailiff stationed at Prince of Wales Bay has been indefatigable in his endeavors to prevent poaching, there is reason to believe that during the past year the law has in some instances been violated ; and the Cominissoners are of opinion that it will be necessary for the due protection of the salmon, at no distant date, to appoint an additional bailiff. The temptation to poaching has become greatly augmented by the vast increase that has taken place in the number of small fish that now swarm in the Derwent between New Norfolk and Hobart Town due to the protection afforded to them by the operation of The Salmon Act. And the prohibition of all fishing in this part of the river is not more necessary for the safety of the salmon than it is conducive to the real interests of the fishermen of the Derwent. That portion of the river which lies between Bridgewater and Hobart Town is the natural nursery in which various kinds offish, usually inhabiting the deeper water below, deposit their spawn, and from which their numbers are recruited from year to year. The meslies of the nets used hy the fishermen are so minute that fish of the very smallest size are captured and destroyed, and are thus effectually prevented from descending into the deeper water below the city, where they would speedily attain a fkr greater size and , value. The breeding establishment at the Plenty has from its first erection been an object of great interest and attraction, yearly increasing, not only to the public of Tasmania, but to visitors from all the adjoining colonies. The Commissioners trust that at no distant period they will be able to calculate the time when the existing attractions may be increased by granting permission to use the rod and ' line. At the request of the Commissioners the Government instructed the SurveyorGeneral to cause a drawing and plan of the salmon ponds to be prepared, and this work has been admirably performed by some of the officers of the department, the survey having been executed by Mr Morrison, and the drawing by Mr Piguenet. The former it is proposed to hang in some public place for general inspection. Of the latter a considerable number of excellent lithographs have been executed under the direction of the Serveyor-Gene-ral, which will be generally circulated, and will afford information respecting the plan and construction of the whole breeding establishment, which* has long been sought for, not only by the people of this and the adjoining colonies, but by many emient pisciculturists in England, who have been watching with much interest the progress of our enterprise. Robert Officer, Chairman.