SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION

FISHERIES AND ANIMAL HEALTH RESEARCH PROJECTS

OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE SOUTH PACIFIC REGION

Two summaries of research projects relating to Fisheries and Animal Health, of significance for the South Pacific region, being conducted under the authority of the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization

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Technical Paper No. 5

Noumea - May 1950

LIBRARY SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSI A. FISHERIES

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization: Division of Fisheries.

Given below is a summary of research projects of significance for the South Pacific region (as at March, 1950).

The exploitation of 's marine resources has proceeded slowly, one of the main reasons being lack of knowledge regarding the location of fishing grounds, the migrations and other habits of fish, and suitable methods of catching different varieties under the conditions prevailing in Australian waters. The Division of Fisheries is seeking to obtain this information. It is also undertaking work on Food Preservation.

1 . Operations of Research and Fishing Vessels

(a) F.R.V. "Warreen" : This vessel is operating in Western and South Australian waters from (W.A.) to Port Adelaide (S.A.). A survey of the fishing grounds and a comparison of different methods of catching in these waters is being made.

(b) F.R.V. "Liawenee" : The F.R.V. "Liawenee" is operating in Tasma- nian and Victorian waters, and at present is concentrating on the collection of material for school shark and barracouta investiga­ tions. During 1948-49, 460 school shark and 1,000 barracouta were tagged and released at sea.

(c) F.R.V. "Stanley Fowler" : This vessel is engaged in surveys and the collection of hydrological data in Queensland waters. A sur­ vey cruise to Lord Howe Island indicated that Australian salmon, kingfish, bonito, tuna, scad, and several species of reef fish are present in the area and that the catch taken by commercial fisher­ men could be considerably increased. The vessel is also being used for C.S.I.R.O. pearl and pearl shell culture investigations at Thursday Island.

2. Fisheries Biological Investigations

The Division of Fisheries is conducting an extensive programme of fisheries biological investigations, including a study of the occurrence,

-1- biology, and methods of catching the following species in Australian waters:- Trawlfish, Australian Salmon, School Shark, Tuna, Pilchards and Anchovies, Tasmanian Whitebait, Barracouta, Mullet, Black Bream, Cowanyoung, Spanish Mackeral, and some freshwater species including brown and rainbow trout.

3- Crustacea and Shell Fish Investigations

(a) Crayfish: A continuous fishing test on Panulirus longipes was conducted at Pelsart Group in the Abrolhos Islands during the last financial year and is being continued. Occurrence and population estimates of the species are being studied. Technical work on the processing of crayfish has been carried out. It was shown that copper values ranged from 43 to 208 gamma per ml. It was considered that this variation was correlated with variation in the liability to blackening of crayfish flesh, and processing methods were worked out on this assumption. These methods have been adopted by the commercial packers and the product is now satisfactory.

(b) Sand Crabs: Following representations by the Queensland Profes­ sional Fishermen's League alleging that female sand crabs of carapace width greater than 6 inches do not reproduce and there­ fore should be marketed, the Division is investigating the matter at the request of the Queensland Fisheries Department.

(c) Oysters: Investigations on the spat of Pacific Oyster (Ostrea gigas), imported from Japan, are being conducted at Pittwater () and near Carnarvon (W.A.).

(d) Scallops: The predicted decline of the catch of scallops in Tas­ manian waters began in the 1948 season and is being studied.

(e) Pearl Shell and Pearl Culture: The programme of pearl shell and pearl culture was commenced in Thursday Island in December, 1948. However, pending completion of the buildings and laboratory at the Thursday Island Experimental Station, the field work has been very restricted.

4. Oceanography

(a) Oceanographical Investigations: A determination of annual pro­ ductivity cycles in New South Wales, Tasmanian, and Western Aus­ tralian waters is being conducted.

(b) Estuarine Hydrological Investigations (i) Productivity and Zonation Studies: Routine hydrological -2- examinations of estuarine waters from New South Wales, Tasmania, and south- are being carried outo

(ii) Oyster Hydrology; Oyster enrichment investigations are being conducted at Shell Point and in the George's River area, N.S»W. Routine investigations of the hydrological and bottom mud properties of the Pittwater area, Tasmania, in which Japanese oysters have been laid, have been com­ menced.

(c) Freshwater Hydrological Studies: Hydrological and bottom mud in­ vestigations of Lake Dobson and Penna Dam in Tasmania are in progress•

5- Plankton Investigations

Regular Plankton hauls are being made in certain Western Australian, Victorian, South Australian, Tasmanian and New South Wales waters by the Division of Fisheries. Detailed examination and classification of the spe­ cies constituting the hauls is being carried out and a study of the groups made.

6. Taxonomy

Work is being directed to the description of deep-sea fishes of the familes Myctophidae, Sternoptychidae. and Gronostomidae. Work on a card in­ dex of fishes is being continued, and the section on sharks and rays is now nearing completion.

7. Mutton Birds

Joint field investigations into the Tasmanian mutton bird (Puffinus tenuirostris) by the Division of Fisheries and the Tasmanian Fauna Board are being conducted in the Furneaux Group. Longevity data for the species are being sought and the homing and dispersal habits of the birds are being studied.

8. Aerial Observations

An aerial survey of salmon has been carried out in August of the past three years to ascertain the occurrence of shoals. Salmon have been located from west of Albany to Port Culver in the Great Australian Bight.

9» Microbiology A study of marine bacteria and those in estuarine muds in Botany Bay, N.S.W. is being made. The study of the diatoms occurring on the

-3- oyster beds in Botany Bay has yielded a number of species new to Austra­ lia.

10. Fouling by Marine Growths

Stations for a study of fouling plates have been established at Cairns and Townsville, Queensland, and Yamba, N.S.W.

11. Agar

A seaweed survey of North Queensland has revealed a bed of Euch- euma suitable for agar manufacture. Recently, certain overseas techniques have been employed in the manufacture of Sracilaria agar, giving a greatly improved quality. It has also been possible to make and vary the proper­ ties of a very good agar from Eucheuma.

-4- B. ANIMAL HEALTH

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization; Divisions of Animal Health and Production.

Given below is a summary of research projects of significance for the South Pacific region.

Research into problems of animal health and animal production forms an important phase of the activity of C.S.I.R.O. This work is undertaken by the Division of Animal Health and Production. The major activities of the Divis­ ion are concerned with problems of interest to the sheep and cattle industries.

1. Animal Health Research Laboratory, Melbourne

Problems being investigated at this centre include:-

(a) Pleuropneumonia of Cattle: Work on vaccines to control this dis­ ease is being carried out. Attempts to immunize cattle against pleuropneumonia by means of non-living vaccines have not been suc- cesful up to date, although relatively enormous doses have been given. The effects of non-living vaccines combined with certain organic compounds are being studied. It has been demonstrated that living vaccine, in a dose of 0.2 ml. at the tip of the tail routinely produces almost 100 per cent*immunity and much smaller doses are sufficient.

(b) Tuberculosis of Cattle: A study of the detection of tuberculosis animals not reacting to routine intradermal tuberculin tests is being made. Several synthetic-medium tuberculins are being com­ pared. The study of the tuberculin test is being extended to cattle, sheep, and rabbits, artificially sensitized with.killed tubercle bacilli.

(c) Mastitis - Dairy Cattle: Trials of newer preparations of peni­ cillin for the control of mastitis in dairy cattle are in progress. Several preparations of procaine penicillin in peanut oil with the addition of (a) aluminium monostearate, (b) 4 per cent.white beeswax, or (c) 25 per cent .yellow soft paraffin, have been com­ pared with the "standard" calcium penicillin in peanut oil with the addition of 25 per cent soft paraffin. All the preparations were found to be equally non-irritating to the secreting tissues,

-5- but those containing procaine penicillin maintained a higher and more prolonged level of penicillin in the secretions of the quar­ ters. It has also been demonstrated that preparations containing calcium penicillin and crystalline penicillin G, respectively, were equally non-irritating and both maintained satisfactory lev­ els. A study of possible methods of controlling the spread of Str. agalactiae is also being conducted.

(d) Haematuria vesicalis: Estimations of phenols in urine of cattle from unaffected and affected areas has revealed that some poly­ phenol compounds present in the former are not present in the latter. The significance of these differences is being studied. Methods have been perfected for the estimation of aromatic amines in bovine urine, suggestive differences in which have been found between urines from unaffected and affected areas. These are being further studied by means of paper chromatography.

(e) Anaplasma centrale: The strain of A. centrale is being propagated in calves.

(f) Effect of long-continued Cutaneous Applications of DDT Oily Solutions to Cattle: A study of the effect of long-continued cutaneous appli­ cations of DDT oily solutions to cattle is being made. To date, abnormalities have not been detected either clinically or after autopsy.

(g) Brucellosis in Cattle: An experiment has been begun to determine whether intracaudal vaccination is as effective as standard vaccina­ tion in protecting cattle against infection and abortion.

(h) Bacterial Oxidation of Arsenical Cattle-dipping Fluids: A study of the enzymic mechanism of arsenate oxidation by the Pseudomonads iso­ lated from "oxidised" dipping fluids is being made. It has been shown that very small amounts of potassium cyanide (65 parts per million) arrested further oxidation in a "dip" already oxidised to the extent of 29^.

(i) Caseous Lymphadenitis of Sheep: Experiments to determine the pro­ tective value of animal vaccination one month before the sheep are shorn are in progress.

(j) Toxaemic Jaundice of Sheep: In co-operation with the staff of the Veterinary Research Station, Glenfield, N.S.W., intensive investi­ gations, designed for the study of heliotrope poisoning in sheep, are being conducted at the Field Station at Barooga, N.S.W. The heliotrope plant has been found to contain one or more substances which progressively damage the liver of the sheep.

-6- A study of the effect of sheep grazing a pasture dominated by subterranean clover on the copper status of the animals is being carried out in the Adelaide Hills District, S.A. Work is also being undertaken on the effects of clover pastures and of molybdenum supplements.

(k) Toxicity of Wheat for Stock: It has been shown under laboratory conditions that the toxic dose of crushed wheat for Marino sheep is 75-80 g./kg., i.e. 6 lbs. for a sheep weighing 80 lbs., which is a much greater amount than they will voluntarily consume. After administration of these amounts, the animals die of acid intoxication, depletion of alkali reserve, and haemoconcentration.

(l) Physiology of Reproduction in Sheep: Work is being conducted on cyclical activity in the reproductive tract of the mature non­ pregnant ewe, seasonal variation in fertility, and the development of reproductive activity in young ewes.

2. McMaster Animal Health Laboratory, Sydney

(a) Parasitological Investigations - Internal Parasites: Studies are being made on anthelmintice, including phenothiazine and hexa- chlorethane, and on resistance to nematode infestations, including serological studies on resistance and immunity.

(b) External Parasites of Sheep: (i) Investigations on the bionomics of the body louse of sheep (Damalinia ovis) and the foot louse of sheep (Linognathus pedalis) have recently been completed. The results are being prepared for publication.

(ii) Work on the control of ectoparasites of sheep by means of benzene hexachloride dips is being carried out.

(c) Blowfly Strike Problem: Insectary trials at Canberra are in pro­ gress to determine the effectiveness of applying insecticides to the tip of the fleece of sheep as a protection against body strike. Up to date DDT has given better protection than any other insec­ ticide tested.

(d) Parasite Physiology and Toxicology: A study of the physiology and toxicology of various parasites, including Helminthium contortus, Ascaridia galli, Nippostrongylus muris. and Hematodirus spp. from sheep is being made. The mode of action of phenothiazine and its derivatives is also being studied.

-7- (e) Nutritional and Biochemical Studies: Field trials are being con­ ducted during the winter months at Frodsley and Cressy (Tasmania) and at the McMaster Field Station near Liverpool (N.S.W.) on Vita­ min D supplements for sheep. Brought feeding investigations with sheep are in progress in collaboration with the New South Wales Department of Agricul­ ture at the Glenfield Veterinary Research Station, N.S.W. Studies are being made on seasonal changes in body weight of beef cattle from weaning to maturity, and on problems of stall- feeding for "topping off" purposes. The observations include the dietary levels of concentrate and roughage most suitable for fat­ tening purposes, the rate at which steers can be brought to full feeding in the fattening stalls, and the incidence of digestive disturbances associated with the fattening period.

(f) Physiology of Reproduction; A study of mechanisms of fertilization has been commenced on rabbit, rat and mouse sperms in vitro. The principal objectives of this work are the development of methods for preserving fertility of spermatoza for relatively long periods at room temperature, and the fertilization of the ovum in vitro. Investigations on the inactivation of gonadotrophins are also being conducted.

(g) Sheath Rot: An investigation of sheath rot in sheep is being car­ ried out.

(h) Pregnancy Toxaemia: Studies of metabolism in sheep are being made with the object of providing basic information of particular value in pregnancy toxaemia investigations. Some preliminary observa­ tions are also being made on the adrenals of normal sheep and on the clinical, biochemical, and pathological features of the so- called "adaption syndrome" in the sheep, and it is intended to com­ pare these with those of pregnancy toxaemia.

Veterinary Parasitology Laboratory, Yeerongpilly, Queensland

The work of C.S.I.R.O. officers at this laboratory is being devoted to studies of cattle parasites. These include investigations into Onchocerca gibsoni (beef nodule worm), the epidemiology of parasitic "gastro-enteritis" of calves, and helminth infestations of adult cattle, including fluke dis­ eases of adult cattle.

F.D. McMaster Field Station, Badgery's Creek, N.S.W.

Investigations at this Station are concerned primarily with breeding stud­ ies on sheep, including studies of inbred flocks of Merinos, investigations

-8- of heterosis, and investigations into the inheritance of "hairiness". A study of the methods of inheritance which control yield, staple length, fibre dimension, and density of fibre population is being conducted on Border Leicester, strong-woolled South Australian, fine and superfine New England Merino sheep. In addition, work is being conducted on the development of hybrid dairy cattle based on Zebu crosses with British breeds. Observations with regard to body temperature and respiratory rates of the animals, milk yield, tick repellence, hardiness, and carcase weights and quality are being made.

5- Wool Biology Section. Sydney, N.S.W.

(a) Comparative Breed Studies: An experiment has been commenced to study sheep of Merino, Corriedale, Polwarth, and Lincoln breeds, under laboratory conditions, where individual animals can be fed on a uni­ form high-quality ration and the fleece growth accurately measured. The object of this experiment is to analyse the main differences in the wool producing capacity of four contrasting breeds.

(b) Classification of the Hair Follicle Group: Investigations are being conducted to determine whether the arrangement and activity of wool follicles within the skin will provide a means of measuring heritable variations in the external fleece.

(c) Study of the Progeny of Three Top Sires in an Australian Merino Stud: A study is being made of the ewe progeny of three outstanding sires in an important Australian Merino Stud. Observations on the differ­ ences in fleece characteristics between the progeny of the rams are being made.

6. Regional Pastoral Centre and Laboratory, Armidale, fl.S.W.

(a) Blowfly Strike in Sheep: Work is being undertaken on dressings for the prevention of fly strike in wounds following lamb-marking, and on the prevention of body strike in sheep.

(b) Internal Parasites in Sheep: Studies are being made on the correla­ tion between variations in climatic conditions and change in the worm burden and on the winter feeding of weaners in relation to worm infestation.

(c) Heo-natal Mortality in Lambs: Following preliminary observations of occurrences of the low natural increase in the flocks of Merinos, a systematic investigation of this problem has been commenced.

(d) Merino Sheep Strain Trials: The Division has commenced a Merino sheep strain trial with the objectives of -

-9- (i) Examining the conception that certain sheep are better fitted than others to particular environments. (ii) Determining the effects of various environmental stresses on several strains of sheep. (iii) Investigating these stresses in relation to the physio­ logical processes involved.

The trial entails selection of four particular strains of Merino, maintaining these groups in several different wool-growing areas and comparing lifetime production of various strains over all centres and, where possible, the comparison of each strain group with sheep in the parent flock. The four strains selected for observation include Medium Peppin Merinos and Fine, Medium, and Strong Non-Peppin Merinos. Observations in connection with this trial are being made at the Armidale Regional Pastoral Centre, N.S.W., and also at the National Field Station, "Gilruth Plains", Queensland.

National Field Station "Gilruth Plains", Queensland

The main experimental work on the animal side at the present time is designed towards methods of animal breeding. A breeding trial, which aims at contrasting three systems of animal breeding, is in progress; work on heterosis is also being conducted. This Station provides one of the environments under which the performance of selected strains of Merino sheep are being studied (see para. 6(d) ).

Fleece Analysis Laboratory, Villawood, N.S.W.

The laboratory performs the measurement of the characteristics of fleece samples submitted by various Divisions of C.S.I.R.O. Scouring tests, fibre diameter, fleece density, crimp and staple length are cov­ ered. Attention is being given to finding improved techniques for deter­ mining the total number of fibres in a bundle.

Investigations of Beef Production in Australia

A survey of beef production in Australia is nearing completion. The object of the survey is to obtain data for an accurate assessment of the economic position of the beef cattle industry in the various parts of Australia.

Experimental work with beef cattle requires a system of carcase appraisal to give accurate measurements on the end product, and work is

-10- being carried out at the Cannon Hill (Q.) Abattoir with the object of developing a satisfactory system.

10. Poultry Breeding Investigations. Werribee, Victoria

The C.S.I.R.O. poultry breeding research unit is conducting com­ parative investigations of poultry breeding systems. Artificial insemi­ nation, as a standard method of mating, is being studied, and three nethods of obtaining individual egg records (trap-nesting, single bird pen, and single bird battery cage) are being investigated.

(11)