47G Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



caught by Mr. Grieve. The yearly increase in weight of these, suppos- 

 ing them to be 1869 fish, will be, deducting half a pound for 1808 : — 

 1-22, 1-41, 0-71, 0-71, and 1-66 lbs. respectively. This is a decrease in the 

 rate of growth for each of these rivers, except the Upper Taieri, since 1878, 

 while the actual weight of the fish under consideration has increased, 

 excepting in that of the largest from the Shag River. At the same time I 

 think these rates too low, as the most of the trout in all likelihood were not 

 of those turned out in 1869. Then the mean or average weight of all the 

 heaviest trout for the period 1878 to 1883 I find to be as follows : — Shag 

 River, 11-4 lbs.; Leith, 14-6 lbs. ; Lee, 5'61bs. ; Deep Stream, 6 lbs. ; and 

 Upper Taieri (one fish), 20 lbs. Now, the evidence of each of the three 

 preceding results is as a whole, that the weight of the largest trout has 

 increased, while I may add their numbers have undoubtedly decreased in 

 these rivers. This agrees generally with the belief of anglers who have 

 fished the same waters. 



The average weight of all trout taken per day together with their num- 

 bers, in the Lee and Deep Streams, may now be examined. This, as before 

 explained, I can only give from the angling diary of one fisher, as those of 

 others are very incomplete. From 1875 to 1883, then, the average number 

 and weight of all trout caught per day for the two periods or divisions 

 was : — 



Lee Stream. Deep Stream. 



1875 to 1878, trout per day, 2-67 ; average Trout per day, 3'66 ; average weight, 1-20 



weight, 1-25 lbs. lbs. 



1878 to 1883, trout per day, T50 ; average Trout per day, 2-56 ; average weight, 1-86 



weight, 1-52 lbs. lbs. 



This example is so far confirmatory of above evidence, and shows that 

 the stock of trout in these two streams has certainly become fewer in 

 number, but heavier in average weight, during the latter period. 



It will be remarked by anyone examining carefully the weights of trout 

 I have given, that the heaviest were taken in the Shag Eiver, Water of 

 Leith, and Upper Taieri Eiver. The two former of these waters differ 

 greatly from one another in the geological character of their channels, and 

 also from the latter river ; but they also appear to possess a more abundant 

 and varied supply of food than it ; nevertheless, the heaviest fish have been 

 both seen and caught in the Upper Taieri Eiver, which raises a curious 

 question as to the food-supply of that river. The upper waters, by a rapid 

 descent to the Serpentine Flat, drain the slopes of the Eock and Pillar and 

 Lammerlaw Mountains. Trap and gneiss may be taken as the rock forma- 

 tion of these ranges, their flat tops being also distinguished by immense bogs 

 and morasses. The Serpentine Flat is about 10 miles long, with a heavy 



