Aethur. — On Fish Culture in New Zealand. 203 



The success of the brown trout in such rivers of Southland as the 

 Waimatuku, Makarewa, Oreti, Waikiwi, Waihopai, and Puni has not been 

 very decided as yet. Whether it will be in the future is a matter of some 

 uncertainty. 



In reviewing the operations of the various societies in the South Island 

 of New Zealand, it is manifest that they have given better results than those 

 obtained by the societies in the North Island, and that probably for the 

 reasons already given above. In the case of the whitefish ova in 1880 the 

 Canterbury society alone were successful, and it is significant that they only 

 of all the societies fed the young fish with blood from the first. Of private 

 individuals who have done a great deal with their own breeding ponds in fish 

 culture, Mr. Johnson, of Opawa, Canterbury, and Mr. W. A. Young, of Pal- 

 merston, Otago, have specially distinguished themselves. Mr. Young in past 

 years has reared and liberated in different streams many thousands of trout. 

 Fish hatching, as practised in Otago idth Trout Ova. 



This interesting process, in pursuance of the arrangement proposed in 

 the beginning of this paper, I will now endeavour to describe. As at home so 

 here, the winter season is that during which we find our acclimatized trout 

 effect their spawning. Or rather I should say that while trout in England and 

 Scotland spawn in October and November, we find that in Otago they do so 

 later, that is from the latter end of June to the end of July, and sometimes 

 on to the middle of August, which months correspond to December, January, 

 and February in Britain. Previous to the winters of 1879 and 1880, besides 

 ova taken from spawning fish in the Water of Leith, ova had been got fi-om 

 the natural spawning beds or "ridds" in Lovell's Creek, Fulton's Creek, 

 Lee Stream, and Shag Eiver. This was done by the Acclimatization 

 Society, by whom the trout were introduced, and who have power by law so 

 to do; Mr. Clifford, the original and successful acclimatizer of these fish, 

 being now succeeded by Mr. Deans, the society's manager, a most careful 

 and trustworthy operator. But during the winters of 1879 and 1880 the 

 ova have been entirely got from fish caught in the Leith. 



The simivning fish. A mild night, without moon but not too dark, and 

 the water clear, are the most favourable conditions under which the fish 

 may be taken. Provided with a lantern throwing a good strong light, 

 attached to a waist belt or carried in the left hand, a large scoop net in the 

 right hand, and his legs enveloped in gum boots or waders, the manager 

 quietly enters the bottom of a pool. His attendant, carrying a large metal 

 bath or tub for transport of the fish, moves along the bank of the Leith, 

 and keeps near him. On approach, a fish, which can readily be seen by an 

 experienced person, moves up stream, slowly, however, as compared with 

 what its movements in daylight would be. By quickness the net can 

 generally be passed under the fish ere it can get away, and should the fish 



