254 FISHES 



Some were sent to Mr Johnson of Opawa, who kept them close 

 in his aquaria, and wrote stating what an undesirable importation 

 they would prove if liberated in our rivers. I do not know what came 

 of any of these, but I am not aware of any sticklebacks being in any 

 of the New Zealand waters at the present time. 



Family Percid.^ 

 * Perch (Perca fluviatilis) 



The late Mr A. M. Johnson claimed that he first introduced 

 perch into New Zealand; he arrived in Christchurch in 1864 from 

 the Old Country. His first shipment of 200 fish per ' British Empire ' 

 in that year was, however, unsuccessful. 



In 1868 three perch were received by the Otago Society from the 

 Hobart Society, arriving in July in the ' Swordfish,' and these were 

 turned into the Ross Creek Reservoir, which supplies Dunedin 

 with water. In September of the same year Mr CUfford landed 19 

 more from Hobart, and these were placed in the same reservoir. 

 In 1870, 18 more were landed. These fish increased and were 

 spread far and wide through Otago, viz. to Lawrence, Gore, Clyde- 

 vale, Kaitangata, Otekaike, Elderslie, Tapanui, Waikouaiti, Waihemo, 

 etc. They were also sent to Ashburton, to the Canterbury Society, 

 and to Nelson. The Otago Society's report for 1891 says: "These 

 fish are becoming very numerous; Kaitangata Lake and Lovell's 

 Creek are simply swarming with them." In 1892 the report is: 

 "Perch are still on the increase. Some have been caught weighing 

 as much as 5 lbs." 



Also in 1868 the Southland and Canterbury Societies received 

 perch — ^the number not specified — ^from Mr Morton Allport of Hobart. 

 The annual report of the latter society for 1871 says: "they have 

 successfully multiplied and no further importations are needed." 



In 1883 Mr Shury of Ashburton reported to the Canterbury 

 Society that "perch in large numbers could be seen in some streams 

 on the Wakanui road," and the report of the following year shows 

 that they were extremely abundant in the district. 



In 1877 the Wanganui Society imported about 50 dozen perch 

 from Ballarat, Victoria : " They were put into canvas bags filled with 

 water and slung on frames on board ship. They arrived in capital 

 order." A second consignment was not so successftil, about half dying. 



In 1878 the Wellington Society got about two dozen from the 

 preceding Wanganui shipment and placed them in the Wellington 

 Reservoir. In 1886 they were very numerous, and several lots were 

 placed in lagoons in the Wairarapa, and in lakes near Otaki. 



