Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons^™

Fisheries Report No Vii (7) - Results Of A Biological Survey Of The Millstream Area, A. A. Burbidge Dr

Fisheries Research Reports

Millstream has long been recognised as an unique and outstanding area, both scenically and from a biological aspect. The area of prime interest consists of a series of deep pools in the bed of the Fortescue River (about 15 miles long including Gregory Gorge) and the springs and streams which feed them. Most of the springs are in the sides of the river bed but one of the largest is about 1% miles to the south. This feeds a swift flowing stream running north into the river bed.

The first Europeans to see the area were the exploring party led …

Irrigation In South-Western Australia, K S. Cole

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE pattern of irrigation in South-Western Australia is constantly changing, At present, the main increase is in the private sector.

In the past century, there has been a see-saw effect from private to Government to private schemes.

Some Wildflowers Of Western Australia, C. F. H. Jenkins, A. S. George

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

MUCH recent discussion on conservation has centred around the importance of wild flower reserves and the need for protecting one of thci State's most important tourist attractions. Although less important to visitors than the flowers, many of our wild animals hold equal interest for nature lovers and scientists, and they also need protection.

ALTHOUGH the brilliance and diversity of West Australian wildflowers are widely appreci­ated, the localities where they can best be observed in their natural state are not so well known.

In this article a brief outline is given of the more important districts in the south western part …

Soil Conservation Handbook, D J. Carder, G W. Spencer, Soil Consevation Service

Books & book chapters

Soil Conservation means, basically sound land management. With good management the Ste's resources of productive land can be bot only maintained but actually improved. It is a question of deciding the best use for each soil type and situation. Profitable Production must be kept up in changing economic conditions without destroying land assets in the process.

Fisheries Report No V (5) - Report On Marron In Farm Dams (Cherax Tenuimanus), N M. Morrissy

Fisheries Research Reports

A programme of selling marron (Cherax tenuimanus) to country dwellers for stocking farm dams, has been carried out by the Pemberton Trout Board for the past few years with considerable financial gain. In this case permission to sell the marron was granted by the Department of Fisheries and Fauna so as to encourage the provision of stocks of this large, freshwater crustacean for farmers in the dryer inland areas of the Southwest which are remote from sources of fresh fish and from natural stocks of marron.

The marron, however, have been sold indiscriminately, upon request, without any advice as to …

Fisheries Report No Iv (6) - Report On The Current Status Of Crocodiles In Western Australia, H. Robert Bustard Dr

Fisheries Research Reports

The aim of the survey was fivefold,

(1) to determine the present abundance and composition of saltwater crocodile populations in Western Australia,

(2) to comment on the status of the freshwater crocodile in Western Australia following 7 years of total protection,

(3) to locate study area(s) for detailed work on crocodile biology,

(4) to investigate the feelings of people on the spot (especially shooters or ex-shooters) towards crocodile conservation, and

(5) to investigate law enforcement problems relating to crocodiles

Fishery Report Iv (4) - Report On The Barramundi Fishery In Western Australia, N M. Morrissy

Fisheries Research Reports

Barramundi are widely distributed in rivers and estuaries in the semi-tropical and tropical regions of the Indo- Pacific from South China to the Persian Gulf and along the coast of northern Australia. The limiting factors to the distribution appear to be temperature and salinity.

Bulletin No 3609 - Land Development In The South Eastern Wheatbelt, G T. Halpin, P. Nelson

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

Interest in the development of light lands in the south-eastern wheatbelt was spurred by the many ex-servicemen seeking farms after the 1939-45 World War.

Previous attempts to develop this area had been frustrated by poor crop yields, and by the poor carrying capacity of those volunteer pastures which developed on cleared land.

Research into reasons for the poor crop results was begun in 1948-49 with trials sown by Messrs Smith and Halpin between Borden and Lake Grace. The results clearly showed the important role played by copper and zinc in successful crop growth. Since then, field trials have been conducted …

Bulletin No 3547 - Kimberley Research Station - Progress Report 1968, Western Australian Department Of Agriculture

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

Rivers flowing to the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Timor Sea have been estimated by hydrologists to carry about three times the water transported annually over the Murray drainage system and the South Eastern slopes which, together, comprise the highly settled agricultural areas of South Eastern Australia.

In 1945, the North Australian Development Committee recommended research in the Ord-Victoria rivers region as a first step toward ultimate agricultural development of this Northern potential and, in 1946, the Kim- berley Research Station commenced operations under the joint control of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization and the Western Australian Department …

Land Grading In South West Irrigation Areas, 1966-67, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Land grading in the South West Irrigation Areas with modern earth moving equipment first commenced in 1949.

The advantages of land grading are well recognised by farmers and this season grading operations were carried out on 208 farms.

Fisheries Report No 3 - Western Australian Freshwater Fisheries, Donald D. Francois

Fisheries Research Reports

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 …

Ammonium Nitrate Blasting Agent (Anfo) For Land Clearing, G A. Greaves

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The introduction of "prilled" AN has revolutionised explosives practice and made possible safer and cheaper methods of blasting.

This article outlines the methods of handling and using ANFO blasting agent for land clearing.

The Relationship Of Flooding And Saline Water Tables, Stanley Thomas Smith

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

IN Western Australia there are several ways in which salt manifests itself but the most serious and extensive of these is in the valley systems where shallow saline water tables occur.

This type of salt problem is called "valley waterlogging" and occurs in most of the flat valleys throughout the wheatbelt of W.A.

Fruit Growing In Western Australia, Western Australian Department Of Agriculture, Western Australian Tourist Development Authority

Horticulture published reports

Revised 1965.

The Mediterranean type climate of the coastal belt of the south-west of Western Australia is suitable for the commercial production of apples, pears, various stone fruits, oranges, grapes, and several other less important fruits. The warm dry summers (November-March), are too severe for the profitable production of many berry fruits and the winters too cool and wet for most tropical fruits. Figs, mulberries and olives all flourish in this climate but, for economic reasons, few are grown commercially.

A small tropical fruit industry, mainly bananas, has been established along the banks of the Gascoyne River at Carnarvon, which …

A History Of The War Service Land Settlement Scheme Western Australia, A, R. Barrett

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

In writing a history of the Western Australian War Service Land Settlement Scheme, it is pertinent to remark that land settlement projects have ever been difficult and, in fact, to date very few have been really successful. However, there has always been the necessity to accede to the desire of returning men to go on the land, also in States such as Western Australia there was and still is the need for further land development. Therefore, when the Commonwealth Government offered to provide the funds for servicemen's rehabilitation on the land the State gladly accepted and agreed to take responsibility …

Fisheries Report No I (1) - The Shark Bay Fishery On Snapper Chrysophrys Unicolor (Quoy And Gaimard), B. K. Bowen

Fisheries Research Reports

As regards both catch and value, the Shark Bay snapper fishery is the second most important scale fishery in Western Australia. Until 195%, the fishing was done solely by means of hard-lines operated from beats drifting over the snapper patches. In 1959 traps were first used with great success and in 196) this method of fishing was again the principal technique.

Prior to the 1960 season there were several suggestions that the use of traps would have a deleterious effect on the fishery. On October 19, 1959, the Western Australian League of the Professional Fishermen's Association wrote to the Fisheries …

Soil Conservation : Build Contour Banks With A Disc Plough, G W. Spencer, D. J. Carder

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Heavy earthmoving machinery is not necessary for contouring; most farmers are already equipped to do the job themselves.

This article by soil conservation advisers G. W. Spencer and D. J. Carder tells how to build contour banks with a disc plough.

Dairy Farming In The Busselton-Margaret River District. Part 1. Stage Of Development, R A. Bettenay

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

This article is the first of four in a series reporting a survey of farming practices in the Busselton-Margaret River area.

Besides the development of farms the series will cover farm stocking rates and milk production on farms in the area.

THE survey of farms in the Busselton-Margaret River district began at the end of the 1962 season.

Information on the stage of development of the properties was obtained from 94 farmers during advisory visits.

Fisheries Report Ii (2) - Preliminary Report On The Effectiveness Of Escape-Gaps In Crayfish-Pots, B. K. Bowen

Fisheries Research Reports

The Western Australian commercial crayfish, Panulinrus cy,nus George, (1962)", is caught in depths ranging from a few feet to approximately 45 fathoms. In the shallow waters large numbers of crayfish measuring, less than the legal minimum length are brought to the surface in the standard commercial crayfish pots. The law requires that these undersize crayfish be returned to the sea, but there is always the temptation to retain them for illegal sale. In addition, the undersize crayfish which are returned to the sea are often damaged by handling. The probability is that their mortality rate is higher than those which …

Profitable Returns From Saltland, C V. Malcolm

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The recent saltland survey disclosed that about 305,000 acres of land previously cleared and sown had become salt affected.

This represents a serious loss in production but is offset by the fact that much of the land is capable of producing high yields of good quality fodder.

Firebreaks Without Erosion : Hints To Prevent Firebreak Erosion, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

AGRICULTURAL fire risks are now greater than they have been in the past and are steadily increasing with the advance of agriculture in Western Australia.

During the past 20 years the area of cleared arable land and the area under crop have more than doubled.

The area of established pasture is four times as great as it was. Pastures and crops are much more productive —and more liable to carry destructive fires than they were.

Plan For The Pilbara, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A DOUBLE-BARRELLED plan for pasture regeneration and vermin control put into action by the Department of Agriculture this year gives promise for the rehabilitation of the run-down pastoral country in the rugged Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Rabbit Control In 1960, C Marshall

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

IN the year 1859, an enthusiastic sportsman in Victoria took delivery from the clipper "Lightning" of a small consignment of wild European rabbits which he joyfully released on his estate at Barwon Park, near Geelong, in order to assure himself of some rough shooting.

He was not the only rabbit importer on record—tame rabbits were brought into Australia before and after 1895 and doubtless there were other importations of the wild rabbit—but he is generally credited—or discredited—with having triggered off the rabbit plague.

Leaflet No 1003 - The Salt Problem In The Wheat Belt, G. H. Burvill

Bulletins 1 - 2999

IN the wheat belt of Western Australian bare patches in farm paddocks are often seen. Many are bare, or almost bare, because of too much salt in the soil. The excess of salt prevents the germination of seeds, or kills living plants, because it causes the water supply for germination or growth to be cut off. This salt problem is so serious in places that single farms or groups of farms have been ruined; wheat growing on them has become unprofitable.

Bulletin 115 - The Value Of Windmills For Pumping Water In Western Australia, A. H. Scott

Bulletins 1 - 2999

It is surprising to note the dearth of up-to-date reliable information dealing with actual results of modern windmills, under working conditions, though literature on thousands of other subjects less important can usually be obtained.

In this bulletin there is presented a complete and accurate record of the amount of water pumped daily by a windmill, under actual working conditions, for a period of 14 months.