232 FISHES 



heat of the season, was very great. About looo fry were retained in 

 Auckland. 



In 1876 a very large shipment arrived, which included 84,000 

 eggs for the Government, a large parcel (the number not specified) 

 for Auckland, 60,000 for Napier, and a quantity for the Canterbury 

 Society. 



The Government supply was sent to Southland, where Mr Howard 

 reported loth March, 1877: 



The salmon were a most unqualified success; very nearly 18,000 have 

 now been turned out, and about 200 kept for observation. All those turned 

 out have been taken as far as possible up the Oreti, and placed chiefly 

 in the five rivers at Lowther. 



I do not know what was done with the 60,000 ova for Napier, 

 the records appear to have been lost. 



The Auckland Society hatched out about 20,000 fry, of which 

 10,000 were placed in the Waikato, 3000 in the Tuakau, 2000 in the 

 Mahurangi River, and 600 in the Southern Wairoa. A thousand 

 sent to the Whakatane River were lost in transit. Apparently the 

 WelUngton Society received 400 fry from this lot (or from Napier), 

 and these were liberated in the Hutt River, seven miles from the mouth. 



The Canterbury Society received 100,000 ova, which it was stated 

 hatched out about 90 per cent. ; but they only distributed some 20,000, 

 which were liberated in the Waimakariri, Hurunui, Rangitata, Little 

 River, Rakaia, Avon and Ashley. 



In 1877 a big order for ova was sent to America, but owing to 

 some bungling between the societies (which were always trying to 

 act independently) and the Government, only 11 boxes arrived at 

 Auckland, instead of 20 which were expected. Some were retained, 

 and the others distributed to Nelson, Greymouth, Canterbury, 

 Otago and Southland. 



The Auckland Society received 100,000 ova, and distributed them 

 as follows : 40,000 in the Punui River in the King Country, 8000 in 

 the Thames, 7000 in a small stream near Wairoa North, and 43,000 

 in the Mangakahia River. About 95 per cent, were said to have hatched 

 out. But this placing of ova in the rivers was rather a stupid procedure 

 in face of the constant menace from eels and shags. Presumably 

 the Auckland Society did not have proper ponds for dealing with 

 large quantities of eggs. 



The Wellington Society again received some fry, about 1700, in 

 this year, though it is not stated where they came from, and liberated 

 them in the Hutt, in the Manawatu River in the gorge, 35 miles 

 from the sea, in the Wairau, 15 miles up, and in the Wanganui, 

 ten miles from the mouth. 



