doubtful fish was taken, as recorded below, the species did not succeed anywhere in establishing itself.

The Canterbury Society's report of 1885 states that a fish found dead in the Avon in February, 1884, was "identified by Dr Bean, Ichthyologist of the Washington Museum, as a Californian Salmon."

In its issue of 21st August, 1895, the North Otago Times congratulates Mr George Dennison of Hilderthorpe, on being the first angler to capture a properly identified true salmon in New Zealand waters. The salmon was taken in the Waitaki River. This paragraph was evidently based on the following correspondence. The Field of 20th July contained an account of four fish sent from the Waitaki Acclimatisation Society to the Editor, who passed them on to Dr Günther and Mr Boulenger-Nos. 1, 2, and 3 were identified as belonging to Salmo fario. Of No. 4 from the Waitaki River they say: "The specimen (length 29 in.; girth 15 in.; weight 9 lbs.) was a female with well-developed ova; it was not the English Salmo salar, but undoubtedly an American species, but which one has not yet been decided." In The Field of 27th July, Dr Günther further writes:

In the editorial note (to previous letter) you assume that one of the specimens sent to you and examined by myself is Salmo quinnat, commonly called "California Salmon." This specimen differs so much from the others of the same consignment, in the form of the head and its component parts, in the shape of the body and tail, as well as in coloration, that I must consider it to have a different origin than the other specimens, which, in fact, I regard as beautifully grown specimens of Salmo fario. It is certainly not a Salmo salar (as I think I demonstrated to Mr Tegetmeier), neither is it Salmo quinnat, which has a many-rayed anal fin, and is readily recognised. Being told that Californian Salmonoids had been introduced into the Waitaki waters, I consider it probable that that specimen might represent one of the numerous species of Salmo of the west coast of America, with which I am very imperfectly acquainted.

After a lapse of several years, during which no importations were made, the Government took up the matter seriously and a continuous policy was entered on.

Early in January, 1901, a shipment of 500,000 quinnat-salmon ova was received from California, a gift from the United States Fish Commission, and of this a portion was sent up to Hakataramea, and the balance to Lake Ohau. In the following year 23,600 yearlings were liberated in tributaries of the Waitaki, and 20,000 retained in the ponds. In 1903 12,000 twenty-months old, and 20,000 twentysix-months old, were liberated in the Hakataramea River.

In January, 1904, 300,000 ova were received from the United States as a gift, and 98 per cent. hatched out. But evidently there were far more received, for during the year, 5000 three-and-a-half-year-old

quinnat were liberated in the Hakataramea, while in 1905 the numbers set free were 448 four-year old, 12,000 one-year old, 224,252 eightmonths old, and 162,613 three-months old. In December, 1905, a fish believed to be a salmon was caught in the Waitaki and submitted to Sir James Hector, who said it was a true salmon grilse, probably belonging to Onchorhynchus quinnat, but he was unable to determine the species with certainty at that early stage.

In 1906 another shipment of 500,000 ova was procured from the United States, Mr L. F. Ayson going to San Francisco for them. Half of these were taken to Lake Ohau, and 245,000 fry hatched out, which were liberated as soon as they absorbed the yolk sac. The other half were equally successful at Hakataramea, 224,833 fry hatching out. In addition to the foregoing there were liberated in the Hakataramea River 73 five-year-old, 12,587 two-year-old, and 53,378 oneyear-old fish.

On 6th June, 1906, Sir James Hector received a fish from Hakataramea of which he wrote: "The fish sent is a true Pacific Salmon (Onchorhynchus quinnat), being a female of about 16 lbs. weight." On 29th June he reported on three more fish from the same river. One was a male, 25 in. long, weighing 6 lb., the second a female 22 in. long, and 5 lb. in weight; and the third (probably only a threeyear-old fish) was 17 in. long, and only 1 lb. in weight. He thought it probable that all these fish, which were all in bad condition when received, belonged to O. quinnat. Both the Secretary of the Waitaki Society and the Collector of Customs at Oamaru stated that fish, supposed to be salmon, had been taken in the Waitaki and in Oamaru harbour by fishermen; those identified by Sir James Hector being of the number. These captures seemed to establish the fact that the fish were now returning to the river to spawn, and that the naturalisation of the species was secured.

In 1907 Mr Ayson again went over to San Francisco and brought back 500,000 ova, which reached Hakataramea on 8th April; and from these 482,000 fry hatched out. During the year 62 three-year-old, 21,282 two-year-old, and 224,647 one-year-old fish were liberated in the Hakataramea River; and later in the year 290,000 fry.

The report of the Marine Department for 1906-7 states that: this year, fish which are undoubtedly Quinnat salmon have been caught in the Hakataramea River, up which they are going to spawn; and the Manager of the Salmon Station reports that he has seen large numbers of them in the river.

During May and June the manager obtained 30,000 ova, the first taken in New Zealand from these fish, from which about 25,000 fry were obtained; of these 17,000 were liberated in the river. In

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-yearold, 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 procured 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 1910 only 210,000 fry were liberated from the Waitaki, owing 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-yearold, 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

streams, such as the Hakataramea and Gray's Hills Creek, to spawn. The number of eggs collected last season was 240,000. These were disposed of as follows: 25,000 were sent to Tasmania, 157,500 to the Hokitika River, 3000 salmon fry to the Seaforth-MacKenzie River, and the balance were retained at the Hakataramea Hatchery. This season the Manager reports a good run of salmon spawning in the Tekapo, and the collection of eggs for this season is now proceeded with. During the year there were liberated from the Hakataramea ponds: 137 three-years old, 1011 two-years old, 8317 one-year old, and 12,426 four-months old fish.

Mr Ayson's report for 1912 says:

In point of numbers the run of salmon which spawned in the Waitaki River and its tributaries last season was quite equal to any of the previous years. The average size of the fish was, however, larger, and a peculiarity of the run was the very large percentage of male salmon which were captured. In other seasons the fish taken were about equal sexes, but last season nearly twice as many male fish were taken as females. Had the percentage of females been equal to other seasons nearly double the quantity of eggs would have been collected. The total quantity of eggs taken was 237,000, and these were disposed of as follows: 27,500 were supplied to the Tasmanian Government; 190,000 sent to the West Coast; 7500 retained at the Hakataramea Hatchery: 12,000, the loss during incubation. The salmoneggs sent to the West Coast hatched out very well, and the young fish were planted in tributaries of the Hokitika River. It is interesting to note that a number of the young fish were taken in whitebait-nets in the tideway of the river during the early summer, showing that they maintain in this country the same characteristics of going to sea at an early stage of their existence as they do in their native country.

The following fish were liberated from the station in October, 1912, 503 three-years-old, and 567 two-years-old.

In 1913 251,000 ova were collected in the tributaries of the Waitaki River, of which 150,000 were hatched at the Department's hatchery at Kokatahi and liberated in the tributaries of the Hokitika River, 25,000 were sent to Tasmania, 45,000 were liberated at Hakataramea, and the fry of 20,000 were kept in the ponds at Hakataramea. Several thousand were hatched at Taupapa for the fresh-water aquarium at the Auckland Exhibition.

The following is from Mr Ayson's report for 1914-16:

A succession of floods in the Hakataramea River during the month of May, 1914, interfered seriously with the collection of salmon-eggs. The nets were washed out several times, and most of the salmon escaped upstream and spawned in reaches of the river in the gorges. The manager at Hakataramea reports a heavier run of fish than the previous season, but owing to the unfavourable river-conditions the number of eggs collected was less. On account of the large number of salmon which escaped up the Hakataramea during the floods, the river was heavily stocked with the salmon-fry hatched from the natural spawning. In the late summer

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 salmon, 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 1911; 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 1915-16

states:

Last spawning season 251,000 eggs were collected; the most of these were taken at the Hakataramea Salmon Station. Two up-country collecting