FISH AND GAME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 87, 12 April 1940, Page 3

FISH AND GAME.

SUCCESSFUL YEAR.

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

SHORT SEASON FOR DUCK.

The annual report of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, which will be presented at the annual meeting of members at Hamilton on April 20. records a successful financial year, the revenue of £.">IG4. exceeding the expenditure of £420."i. by £93« J. There were £444S accumulated fund?.

The report states that relations between the society and the Department of Internal Affairs have not shown the degree of co-operation exiting in pre\ious years, and for s<i:ne time the council bus l>een aware of an increasing disposition on the part of the Minister and Departmental advisers to ignore recommendations of the council, with the result that long-range planning of activities was impossible.

The chief ranker. Mr. J. Dobson. in the report, draws attention to steady elimination of feeding "rounds for grey duck, and restriction of nesting area*. The position was that there was insufficient food available. ("lose seasons eould only supply a small percentage increase to already congested areas, and open seasons tended to restrict the stock. The approaching duck season would oe closed after two weeks, and before the bleeding season began. It was almost equivalent to a closed season as far as reproduction was concerned, and reports as to the duck population in May of the present year should be awaited before a decision was made regarding next vear.

Liberation of pheasants took place iii ■July of 1939 and February of the present year, a total of 2077 birds being liberated. No Dearth of Fish.

Referring to fishing, the report state* that in the early part of the eeason fishing, generally speaking, had not beon good owing to abnormal weather, but reports showed that there was no dearth of fish in the streams, and good fishing was now lx-ing obtained. The numlier of filling licenses issued was considered very satisfactory. As no brown trout were available this season, the hatchery could not be run to full capacity, but 400,000 rainbow trout ova was put through with very good results. The Marine Department had taken over the whole conduct of research into freshwater fishery problems, and a levy was made on the cost of each fishing license.

Steps taken to destroy vermin are mentioned in the report. It was stated that there had been an increase in the number of hawks, stoats, weasels and hedgehogs destroyed, and the Imniws paid by all the so.-ielies were having a most beneficial effect on both native and game birds. The report states that the North and South Island councils met the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. \Y. K. Parry, in October last, in conference, to discuss future administration of wild life. A subcommittee set up submitted a comprehensive report, but J>ro]>osals made had so far neither lieen accepted nor rejected by the Minister.