Artuur.—On the Brown Trout introduced into Otago. 485 
this stream contained crayfish, fresh-water whelks (Limnea), alge, flies, 
and larve; but much of the food consists of smelts and whitebait, which 
swarm in it during the summer. For edible qualities the Waiwera trout 
stand deservedly high. 
The Kuriwao River is a small branch of the Waiwera, which, after pass- 
ing through the Popotunoa Gorge, joins the latter river on the plain 7 miles 
below. It is a very stony water, but has excellent shelter and plenty of 
food, including smelts and whetebait; indeed, the same food-supply as the 
Waiwera, and the same trap formation. About the end of 1878, one day 
Mr. Statham Lowe fished it for curiosity, when waiting for the train at 
Clinton, and had such wonderful luck with the fly as to remain a week. . 
But now it has sadly degenerated in the number and size of its trout. Un- 
fortunately, I have lost his letter, but speaking from memory, I believe his 
best take was seven trout, weighing in all 151bs., and ranging from 14 lbs. 
to 51bs. In 1881 Mr. Lowe and another in one day killed twelve trout, 
which weighed 12 lbs. ; Mr. Lange, half a day, seven trout, weighing 6 lbs. 
` 100zs.; Mr. McCulloch, one day, five trout, weighing 5 Ibs. ; Mr. Lange, 
one day, fifteen trout, weighing 9 lbs. 11 ozs. ; and Mr. A. C. Begg, three 
days, twenty-one trout, weighing 121bs. 8 ozs. In 1882 the latter angler 
caught one, 6 lbs., above the Popotunoa Gorge, and several other good fish. 
Five years ago the yearly increase in weight of the trout I found to be 
lilbs. Poaching and excessive fishing have not only reduced the stock of 
trout, but eaused many anglers to forsake this stream altogether. I have 
heard of boxes of trout, illegally caught, being sent by coach to Dunedin. 
The above figures show a steady decrease in the average weight of trout 
yearly. I have only examined the contents of the stomach of one trout 
from this water, and found these to be the larve of aquatie insects, and fresh- 
water whelks, but the stream is also full of whitebait. This same trout ate .. 
exceedingly well when cooked. 
The Waipahi River is undoubtedly a very beautiful trouting stream, as 
it has abundance of shelter and plenty of range of water; reefs of rock and 
weeds also. It is situated about 8 miles west by rail from the Kuriwao, and 
flows over a similar trap formation, has a good supply of the ordinary river 
food, with thousands of smelts and whitebait also in the season. It has 
few good spawning-beds, is not affected by snow water, is low-lying in its 
course, and is an early river, like the two last-mentioned. In the middle of 
October many of its trout are in fine condition, and generally they have the 
golden and brown tints of the typical brown trout; the spots also being 
mostly round. In the season 1881-82, Mr. Begg, in six days' fishing, 
killed fifteen trout, weighing 24} Ibs, the heaviest being 8 lbs. The largest 
trout I have known caught in this river was nearly 9 lbs., and was taken at 
