TELEOSTEI 203 



preparing to ascend the river for spawning. Numbers of small fish ranging 

 from one-half to two pounds were caught. Some were sent to Dr Giinther, 

 who pronounced them to be Sea Trout. 



In an article on the Aparima experiment in the Southland News 

 of 20th January, 1 891, it is stated: "The first lot of Salmon was put 

 into the Aparima in 1873, ^^^ the last in March, 1890, the total being 

 494,000." It was pointed out to the Marine Department that the 

 people in the district wanted the river made available for anglers. 

 The reply received was that "the Government were determined to 

 keep the river closed, until it had been definitely ascertained that the 

 salmon experiment was a failure." 



From time to time reports of salmon being met with were received. 

 Thus in TheFieldoi 19th December, 1896, a letter appeared regarding a 

 fish which was caught near Oamaru Harbour and was sent to the editor 

 by the Waitaki Acclimatisation Society. In this he says: "This was 

 submitted to Mr A. Boulenger of the Natural History Museum, and 

 stated by him to be a true Salmo solar. It was between 8 lbs. and 

 9 lbs. in weight." The angling editor of The Field commenting on 

 the fish said: 



I have examined dozens and scores of frozen fish sent from New Zealand 

 as Salmon, which, in spite of their size and appearance, were trout of some 

 kind. This is the first of these forwarded specimens which has been to 

 my mind thoroughly satisfactory, and which, from a superficial inspection, 

 would lead me to say with confidence, — "This is a salmon." 



Somewhat later in date is the following statement from the report 

 of the Otago Society in 1 900-1 : 



We have assurance of an old experienced salmon fisher. Baron Bultzings- 

 lowens, who visited our shores during the last fishing season, that he caught 

 a true grilse in the Waiau last February. He says: "The main object of 

 these lines is to tell you that one of the 4 lb. fish was a true grilse, and not 

 a trout. I am too old a salmon fisherman, and have landed too many 

 hundreds of grilse and salmon, not to know the difference between a grilse 

 and any kind of trout. There is to me not a shadow of doubt about that 

 fish being a true grilse. Had it been possible to send you the fish I should 

 have done so. 



To resume the record of introduction. In 1895 the Wellington 

 Society received 200,000 ova from the Government ex ' Kaikoura.' 

 These were in bad condition and only about 20,000 hatched out, of 

 which 3000 were weakly. Of these 500 fry were retained in the ponds, 

 but did not grow well. Apparently a lot more arrived, but it is most 

 difficult to trace them. The only record I can find is that 10,000 ova 

 were sent to the Southland Society, 1500 to Westport, 1500 to Grey- 

 mouth, 1500 to Hokitika, 1000 to Buller, and 1000 to Marlborough; 



