238 FISHES 



and autumn thousands of fine strong healthy fish were to be seen in every 

 pool. The total number of eggs collected for the season was 243,000, which 

 were disposed of as follows: 25,000 were supplied to the Tasmanian 

 Government, 145,000 were sent to the West Coast for stocking the Hokitika 

 River; 53,000 were hatched out at Hakataramea. 



During the year 41,000 three-months-old fry, 19,254 yearling salnaon, 

 580 two-year-old and 36 three-year-old fish were liberated. 



During the angling season it was reported that salmon were caught 

 with rod and line at the mouth of the Waitaki and Rangitata Rivers, and 

 also that they were frequently taken with hook and line off Timaru and 

 Oamaru by persons fishing for sea-fish. 



The run of spawning salmon during the present season (1915) in the 

 head- waters of some of the main tributaries of the Waitaki is undoubtedly 

 the heaviest since the fish first commenced to run up from the sea. When 

 recently in the Upper Waitaki district I was told by men who have lived 

 for a number of years near the lakes and rivers in that region, and who are 

 in the habit of observing the spawning every season, that there are more 

 salmon and larger fish than any previous season. Mr Macdonald, manager 

 of Ben Ohau Station, said that for some years he had watched the salmon 

 spawning in the Ohau River, and this year from its outflow from the lake 

 to its junction with the Waitaki River (a distance of about eighteen miles) 

 he had never seen so many fish. 



When I arrived at Benmore Station after leaving the Ben Ohau Camp, 

 Mr Sutherland (manager) told me his head shepherd and musterers 

 had returned a few days before from the head of the lake and reported 

 hundreds of large salmon spawning in the Dobson River, so I went on to 

 the head of the lake the same afternoon to see for myself, and ascertain 

 whether it would be possible to get any eggs. Mr Fraser, the shepherd 

 in charge there, provided me with a riding-horse and accompanied me 

 to the Dobson the following morning. We examined the river from its 

 junction with the Hopkins to where the camp joins it, a distance of about 

 eight miles. The statement of the Benmore shepherds with regard to the 

 fish I found to be practically correct. We saw a number of large fish in 

 every pool — ^we counted as many as fifteen in one — and large spawning 

 beds every chain or so as far as we went. From the appearance of the fish, 

 the number of spawning beds, and the number of dead fish on the shingle 

 beaches, it was evident that the spawning was about finished for this 

 season. We saw some very large fish: two spent dead fish measured 42 in, 

 and 42^^ in., and I estimate the average size of the fish we saw at from 

 20 lb. to 25 lb. I may say that I inspected the Dobson at the end of the 

 spawning season of 191 1 ; then I saw from thirty to fifty fish and a number 

 of spawning beds. This season I estimate there are well on to ten times 

 as many, and much larger fish. 



The Marine Department's (Mr Ayson's) report for 19 15-16 

 states : 



Last spawning season 251,000 eggs were collected; the most of these 

 were taken at the Hakataramea Salmon Station. Two up-country collecting 



