236 FISHES 



addition to the few fish which were stripped, numbers of salmon 

 were seen spawning in the side streams of the Waitaki from Station 

 Peak to some distance above Kurow ; also in the Ahuriri River higher 

 up, in the Ohau, Haldane and Gray's Hill Creeks, and in the Mary 

 Burn. 



In 1908 103 four-year-old, 173 three-year-old, 18,937 two-year- 

 old, and 166,851 one-year-old fish were liberated in the Hakataramea 

 River ; while 2000 were placed in the Selwyn River by the Canterbury 

 Society. In this year more and larger fish ran into the Hakataramea, 

 and 78,400 eggs were obtained. 



In 1909 43 four-year, 199 three-year, 611 two-year, and 14,624 

 one-year-old fish from imported ova were liberated, together with 

 8000 one-year-old and 51,000 three-months-old fish from ova pro- 

 cured from river fish. The number of ova collected during the 

 spawning season from running fish was 238,000. 



During the year a 5 lb. quinnat salmon was caught near the 

 mouth of the Rakaia River. This may either have come from the 

 Waitaki, or have been one of the 200 fish which the Canterbury 

 Society liberated in the Selwyn River in 1907. 



In 19 10 only 210,000 fry were liberated from the Waitaki, ovring 

 to the very dry summer which preceded the spawning season, and 

 the low state of the rivers. Of these, 32,000 were reared at the station 

 for liberation in the Hakataramea; 25,000 ova were sent to Tasmania, 

 and 150,000 to the hatchery at Kokotahi, Westland. From this last 

 lot of ova about 145,000 fry hatched out and were liberated in streams 

 flowing into the Hokitika River, the stream which the Department 

 decided should be stocked with this fish: 70,000 being put into the 

 Harris Creek, 50,000 into Murray's Creek, and 25,000 into Duck 

 Creek. 



There were liberated into the Hakataramea River, 126 three-year- 

 old, 821 two-year-old, 23,854 one-year-old, and 22,700 fry from the 

 season's ova, and into the Seaforth-MacKenzie River 3000 fry. 



The record for 1911-12 is taken from the Marine Department's 

 report : 



The largest run of Quinnat salmon which has yet taken place came up 

 the Waitaki River last spawning season. They were found spawning in the 

 main river itself, from a few miles up from the sea to where it branches 

 off at the junction of the Ahuriri, Ohau, Pukaki, and Tekapo Rivers. 

 Large numbers were seen spawning in these four large tributaries, and in 

 the case of the Ohau and Pukaki they had run right through the lakes at 

 the heads of these rivers, and were found spawning in the rivers beyond. 

 These fish spawn in much deeper and heavier water than trout, and are 

 therefore very difficult to capture for spawning purposes, as only a very 

 small percentage of the fish which come in from the sea run up the smaller 



