278 



SEASON 1878-79. 



tested the size of the fish in the various ponds, and found the two- 

 year-olds (about twenty- six months old) measured from 7 to 9 

 inches. The three-year-olds averaged f lb., and the four-year-olds 

 averaged 2 Ibs., from which I gather that the fish were fed con- 

 siderably heavier previous to 1879 than they have been since. 



On the 16th April I emptied the east 130-feet wooden pond, 

 and transferred 4398 three-year-old trout to the east 300-feet earth 

 pond. The largest fish measured 17 inches. I also brought the 

 fontinalis alevins from Middlethird to Howietoun. On the 1 8th 

 April I sent 250 fifteen-month-old trout to Carnarvon. The 

 journey occupied about twelve hours. No ice was used, and there 

 was no loss. The fish were carried in three tanks, with 1 4 gallons 

 of water in each. On the 29th April the young fontinalis com- 

 menced to feed, and on llth May they were transferred to the 

 east 20-feet plank pond (No. 3). On the 21st May the water was 

 turned on to the west 300-feet earth pond (No. 12), and next day 

 the four-year-old S. levenensis were transferred from the centre 

 130-feet wooden pond (No. 7). They numbered 1914 in all, the 

 largest being between 5 and 6 Ibs. in weight. On the 7th June 

 the sides of the feeder of the east 130-feet wooden pond (No. 6) 

 were concreted, as the earth-banks had not stood the test of the 

 severe winter ; and on the 9th I commenced to restock the pond 

 with yearlings. 



STATEMENT OF STOCK ON 31ST DECEMBER 1878. 



Total, 



53,059 



