(Salmo gairdnerii). It appears this fish was introduced from California, where it is indigenous, by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society in 1877. The society received further consignments of eggs in 1883. The eggs were taken from steelheads (sea-run fish) from the Russian River. The fish were liberated in the Auckland district initially, later in the Rotorua lakes, and in 1903 in Lake Taupo. Subsequently rainbow eggs from the McLeod and Shasta Rivers were hatched at Auckland and Christchurch. The progeny of the rainbow and steelheads were released throughout New Zealand.
Co-creator
Brian Turnbull Cunningham, B.SC., Senior Fishery Officer, Marine Department, Wellington.