Lake Falconer Ayson was the 13th of the 14 children of Peter Ayson, a carpenter, and his wife, Douglas Lamont (Lamond).

 

They had emigrated from the Scottish Highlands to Otago, New Zealand, in 1853, and were amongst the earliest settlers in the lower Clutha valley.

 

Lake was born at Warepa on 7 June 1855.   He grew up on the family farm and, after leaving school worked there for a time before moving to other farms; fencing, ploughing, harvesting and shearing in Otago and (later) Cheviot in North Canterbury.

 

Subsequently he became a rabbit inspector in the Waitaki valley, based in Duntroon, but working up the big river valley and into the foothills of the Southern Alps.

 

On 11 June 1880 at Knox Church, Dunedin, he married Alice Dabinett, whose parents farmed a property next to the Aysons' at Warepa.

 

Lake Ayson became a keen angler for the brown trout that were introduced into New Zealand during the late 1860s.   He met Francis Scott Pillans, another pioneering farmer in the lower Clutha valley, who had experience in fish culture in England.

 

His interest in fishing and his acquaintance with Pillans combined to determine his future career.

 

Ayson was appointed in 1886 as curator of the Masterton trout hatchery of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, which also provided trout to other acclimatisation societies in New Zealand.   In 1898 the government sent him overseas to investigate fisheries in Italy, Switzerland, Great Britain, the United States and Canada.   He was to determine the methods used in research and management of fisheries, and to identify fish species suitable for acclimatisation in New Zealand, primarily freshwater salmonids (such as trout, salmon and whitefish).   He also made enquiries in Britain about the reasons Atlantic salmon had failed to become established in New Zealand.

 

On his return Ayson was appointed an inspector of sea-fishing in the Marine Department.   He expressed a desire to see fisheries managed on scientific principles, and was soon promoted to chief inspector of fisheries.

 

Aware that New Zealand had very large areas of coastal seas that should have prolific stocks of fish, he initiated an extensive experimental trawling programme.   He had made enquiries overseas about useful marine species such as herring, cod and turbot, and provided details of facilities needed for handling importations.

 

Establishment of the Marine Fish-hatchery and Biological Station at Portobello, in Otago Harbour, in 1904 was an outcome of Ayson's recommendations.   A variety of exotic marine fishes and crustaceans were reared there and released into the sea, although none of them became established.

 

Ayson had also sought suitable game for introduction to New Zealand.   He brought 400 Virginian quail and a few Canada geese back with him in 1899, and suggested that wapiti and white-tail deer be imported, recommended against Rocky Mountain sheep, and provided a list of seven game fowl that he thought should be considered.

 

Ayson pursued a vigorous programme of Atlantic salmon ova importations, until the species eventually became established.   However, these fish were landlocked, and not the sea-migratory stocks that anglers desired.   He had been offered chinook salmon and whitefish ova in the United States and sockeye salmon in Canada, and had returned with a large number of whitefish ova in 1899.   He persuaded the government to establish a substantial hatchery on the Hakataramea River, a major tributary of the Waitaki, as a base for chinook salmon importations, and between 1900 and 1906 five consignments of chinook ova and one of sockeye ova were imported.   Some were sent under the supervision of American fish culturists, although Ayson himself went to California to take delivery of others.

 

He had watched earlier efforts to establish Atlantic salmon, and attributed their failure to the liberation of small numbers in many rivers.   Hence he adopted a strategy of making large chinook releases over several years into just one river, the Waitaki.   He reasoned, correctly, that once established, the fish would spread north up the Canterbury coast and colonise other rivers.   Within a decade chinook salmon were widespread in the eastern South Island.   Ayson hoped for a commercial salmon fishery, like that along the Pacific coast of North America, and he continued to press for it while he was chief inspector, but this hope was not fulfilled.

 

Ayson was ambitious, and suggested that there should be a separate Department of Fisheries, evidently seeing himself as 'Secretary and Chief Inspector'.   He also recommended that the role of the acclimatisation societies be taken over by the government, clearly expecting that responsibility for managing trout fisheries would become his.   He never achieved these goals.

 

Ayson remained chief inspector until his retirement in 1926, and died in Wellington on 17 June 1927, survived by six sons (Alice Ayson had died in 1910).

 

The highly valued stocks of chinook salmon in the rivers of Canterbury are undoubtedly his lasting memorial.

 

This biography was written by R. M. McDowall and was first published in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Volume 3, 1996

 

 

 

Charles Lake Ayson

Leslie Duncan Ayson

Francis (Frank) Catlins Ayson

Mr Lake Faulkner Ayson, Curator of the Trout Hatcheries , who is a son of one of Otago’s early settlers, Mr Peter Ayson , was born in 1855 in Otago, where he was educated at the public schools.

Brought up to the calling of a farmer, he commenced to make experiments in fish hatching by way of diversion in 1880.   His success was such that he became a thorough master of the methods of hatching and rearing, and his appointment to the position he now holds has been abundantly justified by the results shown.

Energy, coupled with untiring industry, have been essential  to Mr Ayson’s magnificent success as Curator of the splendid establishment over which he presides.

During the season he has often to work very long hours and give the closest attention to the condition of the ova and the young fish, and his arduous labours he is ably assisted by three of his sons.

As a member of the Order of Masons, Mr Ayson belongs to Lodge Clutha, S.C, and to the Otago Kilwinning Royal Arch Chapter.

He was married in 1880 to a daughter of Mr J Dabinet, an old settler in Otago and has five sons.

Acknowledgements.

“The Encylopedia of New Zealand. INDUSTRIAL, DESCRIPTIVE, HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHICAL FACTS figures illustraions.

Vol 1-Wellington Provincial District..Published by THE Cyclopedia CompanynLtd.  1897

 

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

From our correspondent in London, July 2.

Mr Lake Falconer Ayson, who arrived in London a few days ago, tells me he has travelled about Italy generally, looking in to all matters of interest in connection with fisheries and fish hatcheries.   He was much delighted with the unequalled aquarium at Naples, and picked up a good deal of useful information as to Italian methods at the hatcheries.

He visited successively all the principal Italian Lakes, notably Cada, Como and Maggiore with a view of ascertaining whether the trout which existed in such large numbers in those great bodies of water would be suitable to the somewhat smaller lakes of New Zealand.   One trout, Salmo Carpio, is peculiar to late Garda, but not in Mr Ayson’s opinion suitable to New Zealand waters.

After visiting all the principal fish hatcheries of northern Italy, Mr Ayson proceeded to Switzerland and examined the principle lakes in that country, particularly Lucerne.   He was anxious, if possible, to get hold of the ova of the Alpine Char.   This he was unable to do in Switzerland but he found it in Germany.   The Swiss hatcheries are generally small and used for the propagation of lake trout.    In Germany he obtained most valuable information at Hunigen, where is the hatchery for the Rhine salmon.

This week he has been inspecting the Billingsgate market to learn all he could about the salmon trade as carried on there.   Next he goes to Grimsby, Hull, Solway  and Dunbar to see the hatcheries and to be on the lookout for any useful “wrinkles.”

From Scotland he crosses to Norway with a like object in view.  Mr Ayson is sanguine that his expedition will prove of much value to the interests of the New Zealand fisheries.

Acknowledgementts.

Otago Daily Times 10 August 1898

 

TROUT HATCHERIES

An area of 13 ½ acres of land in Chapel Street, Masterton, which was splendidly furnished with springs, was leased from the late Mr A.W.Renall.

Here were established the most up-to-date hatcheries in the Dominion.   These were placed in charge of Mr Lake Falconer Ayson (now inspector of fisheries), who had gained experience in fish hatching and rearing on his father’s estate in Otago.

Mr Ayson proved himself a most enthusiastic curator, and he worked day and night in making the enterprise a success.

The hatching – house was well supplied with water, and the percentage of fry hatched out was very large.  

Outside the house were various ponds and rearing races.   The ponds were so constructed that each could be emptied for cleansing purposes independently of any other. In the year after the hatcheries were established (1885), 15,000 ova were hatched.   The original ova, which was procured from England, included the English Brown, Loch Leven, Scotch burn, American rainbow, American brook, and Carpione trout, besides real salmon.   Only the brown trout and rainbow trout appear to have flourished in the streams in the district.

In the ‘Nineties excellent fishing was soured in the Wairarapa, and in one season Mr Ayson succeeded in taking no fewer than 2,500,000 ova from fish in the local rivers.   The process of stripping the fish for ova, and impregnating the latter from the male fish in the ponds, was most interesting.   Trout fry from the Masterton  hatcheries were distributed to all parts of the Dominion, and it was from here that the first trout were obtained for liberation in the Rotorua Lake.

Acknowledgements: Wairarapa Age- 11 January 1919

Grave Restoration.

Unveiling of the Restored Graves of Lake Falconer and Alice Ayson, June 7th 2015 at Taita cemetery.


Coinciding with Lakes 160th birthday in 1855 and on a sunny Sunday afternoon thirty family and extended family came together to pay their respects to Lake and Alice Ayson on the occasion of the unveiling of their newly restored graves. Those attendees included the last surviving grandchild, seven great grandchildren, eight Great Great Grandchildren and three Great Great Great Grandchildren.

Alan Ayson, being the last surviving grandchild, acted as Master of Ceremonies extending a warm welcome and gave an overview of how the project had been progressed. The donations from family to enable the restoration to occur so quickly was recognised and the care and attention from the contracted company Glover Memorials to bring together such a wonderful transformation was acknowledged and thanked.

Clan Chief Hugh Ayson (Great Grandson) was asked to join him for the unveiling ceremony and, after Hugh had plied the children with lollies, one of the youngest great great grandchildren assisted with removing the tartan drapes off each headstone and plaque.

Claire Hills (Great grand daughter) gave the opening blessing.

Alan elaborated further on the life of Lake Falconer Ayson, his young years and career path, his long travels overseas, his trials and errors in establishing the fishing industry in New Zealand and his goals.
Alan recounted one story when a visitor arrived on a horse with a night cart trailer. While his back was turned the boys undid the girth strap from the horse with obvious consequences.
Alan described the disrepair of the graves, with broken and missing black and white tiles, the subsiding of the ground beneath and the discolouration of the unreadable headstones. With the old tiles being European and very expensive to replace it had been decided not to replace them at this stage but to ensure the site was filled in and watertight with drainage built in. The new surface would enable tiling to occur at any stage in the future should that be affordable and suitable

Lindy Daniell (Great grand daughter) was invited to speak on Alice.

Alice’s father Job Dabinett (who was born in Somerset) and her mother, Alice Sophia Hector, arrived at Port Chalmers Dunedin on 1st Feb 1856 aboard the “Isabella Hercus”, a voyage taking six months. They had four children at that stage. (Mary, James, George and Charles). They were housed in the Government Barracks in Dunedin till they set out on foot to the home of relatives in Warepa. Their journey to Warepa mirrors that made by Peter and Douglas Ayson except they had the added burden of the luggage not arriving till 3 months later on the schooner “Pack” which came around the coast down to Port Molyneaux.
Four more children were born at Warepa, Albert, William, Alice and Katherine. So Alice was the 7th of eight children.
The Dabinetts lived next door to the Ayson farm at Corydon and then later when the family had grown they moved to Owaka.
So living next door it is hardly surprising that romance blossomed and when Alice was 23 she married Lake on 11th June 1880 in a double wedding ceremony at Knox Church Dunedin together with Lake’s sister Douglas and James Davidson.
Three years prior to their marriage, Alice’s sister Kate married Lake’s brother - Hugh Fraser Ayson
Lake and Alice produced six boys, William, Charles, Hugh, George, Leslie and Francis. My grandfather was George Dabinett Ayson.
After the birth of their 3rd child Hugh, they moved to Masterton in 1886 to be Curator of the trout hatchery.

Claire and I grew up in Masterton and we remember Lake and Alice’s house. It was a typical NZ Cottage with the front door between two windows and a curved veranda along the front. It was located on top of a small hill with a macrocarpa hedge at the back. The 13 ½ acre site was leased from Mr A.W Renall and became quite a tourist attraction with its park like grounds, ponds fed by clear spring water, fish feeding and swans.
Occupying the site now is the St Patricks Primary School and the MetLife Retirement Village.
When Alice died in 1910 she had been married to Lake for 30 years. By passing away at such a young age of only 52 she would have been grandmother to nine grandchildren and missed out on seeing another eleven born after her death. 
Alice and Lake could boast to having 41 great grandchildren. 

Clan Chief Hugh (Great grandson) closed the gathering.

To select today for the unveiling was both significant and symbolic as Lake was born at Warepa Otago exactly on this day 160 years ago then lived for 72 years. Alice died about 16 ½ years earlier aged 52.
Now how did the restoration come about? On 18 Feb 2012 Dean Christie organised a Wellington gathering at Bellevue – and as Claire and Lindy had never visited their graves Dean offered to take them there. They were so moved by the condition of the graves that they decided something had to be done.
Thanks to family donations and especially that of Ted Ayson the project was able to proceed.
If you had of seen the poor state of the headstones before, you would note the outcome here to be simply unbelievable. Behind the grime it was difficult to make out the names - and the broken tiles on Lake’s grave that had never been replaced after his burial. I am sure Lake and Alice can now rest in peace.