ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 228, 1 October 1897, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY CONFERENCE.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

Wellington, Thursd ay.

The Acclimatisation Conference met this morning. The Sub-Committee suggested that the fee for general fishing licences be lixed at 20s, the price local licenses being left to the discretion of societies. They also recommended that the penalty in cases of the destruction of fish with lime or dynamite be £5 minimum, £50 maximum, with the option of six months imprisonment, and that no refrigerating company be allowed to receive or keep fish or game during the close season. Other suggestions were also made to prevent poaching. T,l'e Conference ailirmed the desirability of establishing a marine hatchery near Dunodin, and recommend that the Government ati'ord the Otago Acclimatisation Society every assistance in furtherance of this project. The Conference ailirmed that all netting in any lake should he carried on subject Lo regulations, details of which are to he settled by the Society interested. The Conference decided that gun licenses should be imposed, except in rabbit districts, but that a property owner be allowed to shoot over his own land without a license. It was resolved to ask Parliament to make it compulsory that people who go in pursuit of native ganieyliall Lako out licenses/" Conoenim;.; iho cr>e;iuigp of the shooting season it was nv-'ivod I hat the season iv tho North I. !;i!i.i c.\ti:i;l uver May, June, anil July, ami in t!.o South Island April, May, June, and July; the societies in the latter lo restrict shooting to three or four months according to local circumstances. The Conference was of opinion that encOiU'rtgemcnL should bo given for the destruction of stoats, weasels, and ferrets in settled districts, subject to the concurrence of the Acclimatisation Society of the district concerned. it was resolved to ask the Government to make more effective provision respecting the pollution of .streams by the discharge of deleterious substances from sheep dips, follmongcries and oilier works ; also that the Government be requested to consider whether rabbit poisoning can be confined to the use of poisons not likely to be taken by game, hi regard to riparian rights, it was decided that in future the Government should arrange in the case of resumed estates on river banks, that a chain on each side should be reserved for the use of anglers, sportsmen and camping parties, the owner.'j of the land of course having access, it was decided to approach the Government on the question of the introduction of salmon ova, and to recommend that the ova be placed under the control of the Otago Society only ; also that financial assistance be granted to that society for the maintenance of salmon.