FISH AND GAME

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 14050, 3 May 1946, Page 2

FISH AND GAME

GOOD SEASON RECORDED

Tauranga Acclimatisation

Society

Election Of Officers

“Owing to incerased allocations of ammunition for the 1945 season sportsmen generally had a more successful season than in 1944,” stated the president of the Tauranga Acclimatisation Society (Mr H. Cuff) when reviewing the past season's activities at the annual meeting of the society on Wednesday evening.

“It was hoped that, with the restrictions removed on sporting ammunition the coming season s supplj would he adequate to meet all normal demands,” he added, ‘‘but information received indicates that only limited quantities will be available owing to manufacturing difficulties. If the information received is correct it would appear more equitable to have the distribution of ammunition controlled by the Acclimatisation Societies as in the past two seasons.” The president said that exhaustive inquiries were made to purchase pheasants for liberation after the last shooting season but with little success. However, the society s breeder (Mr J. Mowat) supplied the society with approximately 100 birds and should have considerably more this season. It was evident that to maintain liberations it would be necessary to encourage local breed-

Fishing-, he staled, had been generally fair in Uv? local streams, some tine fish having been taken. The presence of many small fish was reported, indicating that recent liberation bad proved successful. Liberations for the year were 92,000 fry. In addition holding ponds were constructed in Tauranga and Te Puke, and from these 13,000 fingerlings were liberated.

Dealing with the society's financial position, the president said that, as shown by the balance sheet; the society's finances were, in a very sound position. The accumulation of funds was, however, not the policy of the society and its inability to purchase birds for liberation was much deplored by the council. This would be the most important task ■ facing the incoming council and it was sincerely hoped that the future would see the position much improved' in this respect. “The increase in native birds throughout the society’s district is again most noticeable,” concluded the president. The native' pigeon, tui, bellbird, and many other species were new common both in the native bush and in closely settled areas. The society’s policy of distributing winter flowering gums had no doubt contributed to the maintenance of the native bird population.”

Election of Officers

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year;—President, Mr H. Cuff (Te Puke); vice-presi-dents, Messrs W. Pilcher (Te Puke) and Pemberton (Tauranga); council (Te Puke area) Messrs M. Cruickshank, F. Woolsey ,F. M, Antram, R. W. Doman, R. Longworth, (Tauranga area) Messrh W. Tanner, B. K. Gifford, J. Mowat, A. Hynds and L. E. Woods; secretary, Mr J. Prior; auditor, Mr H. w. Earp. Referring to what he termed the too healthy sign of the society’s balance sheet, the president explained that this would not have been the case if the society could have purchased birds. Other societies, he added, were in a similar position. In reply to a question as to what ■percentage of shooting licences was retained by the society, the president said that 5/- out of .every licence went to the North Island Vermin Control Society. There was, he Pointed out, some talk of reducing the levy to one-twelfth instead of cue-sixth as at present.

The registered members of the society, it was stated, totalled 23D. The president stated that as soon as licence books came to hand it was the intention to send to every licence-holder an enrolment slip. He was going to suggest to the council that in future when the registration papers were sent in, members would receive confirmation in writing from the secretary. It was also intended to post a copy of the rule book- to each member when he was duly enrolled.

‘‘l maintain tjie society is losing a terrific amount of revenue,” stated Mi G. W. Fulton when raising the question of rangers both i n regard to fishing and shooting licences. He expressed the view that the society should make some stand and pay a man a decent* saalry. It was in funds and would be a wise move in order to protect its revenue and game. The president pointed out that every member of . the society had an honorary ranger’s licence, and the council had decided to apply for two more Government warrants. He was quite aware that poaching was going on out Te Puke way.

Mr A. Hynds stated that as far as the Tauranga area was concerned a i anger had been appointed.