Sportsmen Support Progress League

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31031, 11 April 1966, Page 12

Sportsmen Support Progress League

The opinion that the attitude taken up by the council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society on proposals for a measure of stabilisation for Lake Ellesmere was at variance with the views of sportsmen in the area surrounding the lake, was expressed at a meeting of the Springs-Ellesmere Sportsmen’s Association recently, and unanimous support was given the recently published views of the Canterbury Progress League. The maintenance of an even lake level, it was contended, would be of great benefit to anglers and game shooters, as well as to the lake settlers. Discussion arose after the president (Mr E. L. F. Donald) had reported having attended a meeting of the Progress League’s lake investigation committee, together with representatives of other bodies interested.

All points of view had been fully considered, said Mr Donald.

The secretary was instructed to convey the association's views to the Minister of Internal Affairs and Marine. Acclimatisation Work After Mr C. C. Skinner, a member of the council of the Acclimatisation Society, had described recent work undertaken by the society in the interests of sportsmen, in particular the salvage of trout, the hatching of salmon ova and the breeding of partridges, it was agreed to write to the society conveying appreciation of the good work of the field staff, especially in the case of salvage of fish. A suggestion is to be made to the society that trout liberations should be made in the lagoon at the Rakaia mouth and in Hart’s creek at Cooper’s crossing. Canada Geese It was contended that the recent season for Canada geese had opened a month too early, while the birds were moulting and unable to fly. A recommendation is to be sent to the Department of Internal Affairs and the Acclimatisation Society that the next summer season for geese should be from mid-February I to the end of March. i It was said that although

the recent season opened on January 21, few birds were shot until the end of February, and that bags taken had been smaller than in previous years. The view was also expressed that there should be no shooting after sunset because of the impossibility of policing the regulations relating to duck during darkness.