Publication Date

1966

Series Number

Fisheries Report 3

Publisher

Department of Fisheries and Fauna, Western Australia

City

Perth

Abstract

Most of the Australian States have a comprehensive system of inland waterways, Western Australia, however, is in a less fortunate position. True, the maps of the State show many rivers, but in much of the southern, more populous part, with no summer rain and no winter snow, the majority are virtually a chain of waterholes during the long summer months. At the same time, in a relatively small section in the south-west corner, there is a series of permanent streams flowing through what was originally dense forest. But apart from the three indigenous freshwater crustaceans, the marron (Cherax tenuimanus), the coonac (Cc. preissii) and the gilgie (C. quinguecarinatus), very few fish species occur naturally in these waters, and what are there are of no value either for food or for sport.

In an attempt to remedy this lack, the now defunct Acclimatisation Committee introduced trout to the Avon and Preston Rivers about the turn of the century. The committee's records are very scanty, and it is not possible at this time to say precisely where the liberations took place. In the trout acclimatisation 1930's, was commenced in earnest and a hatchery was established at Pemberton. Many hundreds of thousands of both brown and rainbow fry have since been liberated in different localities. The committee also released Murray cod, but seeming- ly only at one place -~ Grassmere Lake, near Ellerker -- were cod Subsequently taken, and then only in very small numbers. English perch ("red fins") are quite common in certain rivers, notably the Blackwood and the Hotham, but it is not known by whom they were brought to the State, or when.

Number of Pages

9

Keywords

Freshwater, Freshwater fish, Western Australia

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Environmental Monitoring | Fresh Water Studies | Natural Resources and Conservation | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Sustainability

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