The Western Star. (PUBLISHEDBI-WEEKLY.) WEDNESDAY, OCT, 16, 1889.

Western Star, Issue 1398, 16 October 1889, Page 2

The Western Star. (PUBLISHEDBI-WEEKLY.) WEDNESDAY, OCT, 16, 1889.

It is no secret that netting is still canied on in the Aparima estuary in spite of compensation given to the fishermen for giving up the privilege. If the settlers are alive to their own interests they will do their best to put a stop to the practice, and if they are determined they can easily do so. The mischief that is being caused by netting is so great that no one should have the slightest scruple or hesitation in laying an information against anyone caught in the act, and there should he little difficulty in getting evidence against habitual offenders. Naturally the news that salmon have established themselves and bred in the Aparima has been received with great interest and satisfaction not only in all parts of New Zealand, but in Australia. In the old country also those who take an interest in fish culture will be overjoyed to hear that at last, after many years of effort, success has been proved to be reached. From the first the Southland Acclimatisation Society set aside the Aparima for salmon and carefully refrained from putting any trout into the river. Large numbers of the fry were from time to time turned out without visible result, and tbe perseverance shown deserves all praise. A mistake was, ao doubt, made in distributing the fry among a number of rivers. As has been pointed out time after time by the press in various parts of the colony, the proper plan would have been to select the best river for tbe purpose and turn all the fry into it. The situation of the river would have mattered little as long as it were one in which the fish were likely to thrive. With salmon fairly established in ; any stream there would have been no difficulty in stocking any other water that might be suitable. But tbe abominable local jealousy which is the curse of New Zealand prevented such a sensible course being followed. In acclimatisati®! , as in evervfching else, the evil spirit shows itself. The Government is in the same position with regard to the different parts of. the colony that Brigham Young was said to be noth regard to his wives. If he made a present to one he had no peace till he had given a similar present to each. In the same way every shipment of salmon ova had to be split up and tbe chance of success in acclimatising salmon accordingly reduced. The choice of a river by the Southland Society has been fully justified by the event, and there can be little doubt that if all the fry hatched had been turned into the Aparima, the river would have been fully stocked years ago, and we should long before now

have been able to send ova to all the suitable rivers in the colony. However, all’s well that ends well. We have the salmon, aud we should do our best to keep them. It would be the height of folly to allow such an advantage to be lost through the greed and selfishness of a few. Every one has heard o: the enormous revenue brought in by salmon rivers at home, and there is now no reason why we should not enjoy a similar profit. When the river is opened for ly-fisbiug great

numbers of sportsmen are sure to flock to the district every year. Naturally poor countries, like Norway and the Highlands of Scotland, have been enriched by the crowds of visi tors attracted by the sport which they can offer, and estates, which. for agri culture or grazing are all but worthless, are valuable for sporting purposes. This certainly is not naturally a poor country, but it certainly would be advantageous to have it better known, and the settlers will find that as salmon increase in number in the river, the value of their properties will rise. Just now is the time when both town and country people should combine to put down what in reality is poaching of the worst description. To use a fine meshed net at the time of the year when the young salmon are hanging about in the tide-way, going up and down a short distance with each tide, is murderous work, and will inevitably postpone for years, Uf not entirely do away with, the advantage, which has cost much labour and anxiety. The young fish have plenty of natural enemies to reduce their number, and all who care for the interests of the town and district will do their best to protect them from poachers. ;