ACCLIMATISATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 200, 18 May 1908, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION.

.• -4ANNUAL REPORT OF THE WELLINGTON SOCIETY. Tho report that is to bo presented at the annual meeting of tho Wellington; Acclimatisation Society on Wednesday evening states that last , year the netting of the rivers for breeding fish was discontinued, and eyed ova was purchased from tho.Marine and Tourist Departments. Tho following quantities were purchased:— Sea-run brown trout ... 800,000 Rainbow trout ... ■ ... 70,000 Total ... ... ... 870,000 The ova'hatched out very well, the fry available for all purposes totalling 797,500. The brown, trout ova obtainod from the Government hatchery at Hakataramea was of most excellent quality. Regret is expressed that the holding of brown trout ■ fry in numbers for yearlings had not turned out a success at Out of tho fry held for yearlings at _ Masterton only "a very small percentage is expccted. to reach tho yearling stage, and bo availablo for distribution. No fault is found with the curator for this. The, causes are set down to tho hot summor and other reasons.' The committee instructed to. report on the advisability of changing tho site of the fish ponds will roport at,tho annual meeting. YEARLING TROUT! Tho Society has during the year past liberated in .the streams of the district 6050 yearling rainbow trout, 599 two-year-old rainbow trout, and 1300, sea-run brown trout yearlings. These.fish were roared at- the Master-, ton ponds, and the pond lately established at tho Upper Ilutt. 'Tho policy,of tho Society in holding fry until they attain this ago_ must havo a very marked effect ,on'the stocking of tho rivers. EFFECT OF THE /DROUGHT. Up to tho. middle of December tho fishing season was very good, but the drought later on mado fishing in all but tho largest rivers practically :an • Many rivers practically dried uji, and large numbers of trout were destroyed in consequence. A CHECK ON POACHING, The appointment of rangers in different j districts has checked poaching to a considerable dogree; but until sportsmen' themselve.3 and: land owners unite < with the society in a combined effort to put'down the practice poaching will. go. on. The, : assistance of the polico has been obtained in tho matter, the commissioner having issued tho necessary instructions to his officers.

LICENSES. Licenses were issued as follow during the year: —Deer shooting,. SS; imported gamo, 818; fishing—men ,918, boys 230, women 38. OPERATIONS SAT PARAPARAUMU. . The operations at tho game farm at Paraparaumu were.' again satisfactory, notwithstanding the fact that . 80 young 'pheasants wero destroyed by a bush fire" which swept suddenly through the property. Tho following is an approximate Fist of the birds reared at the farm during tliq year:— Pheasants: ■' ... .'•• 381., I English wild duck ... ... 100 1 ' ; New Zealand'wild duck ... 15 : American black duck ... ... 28 •;; Oorean ... .'■ ... *• ... . 8 ;!' Californian quail ... ,8 ; Total'':..',. ...: ... ; L- ,510 ; Of these; 192 pheasants and 121 ducks have : becn sent ou.t. There aro about 155 pheaSaiits and some 60 ducks on "the farm at .present. . - • 1 Though a bush 1 fire swept through tho enclosure it cleared off a quantity oF logs and rubbish, and generally did more' good r 'than harm. ' RED DEER. .' ' : Satisfactory accounts have been . received from'.tho , localities.': where .deer , have been liberated, including '• Moiirit." Holdswortli,' in the Tararua Range, ' .Two "stags : and four! hinds wero ..imported from Mr. Lucas, of AYarnham Park; England, during .the year, 'with the object of getting a change of blood. These, with other deer,. aro now in • the society's enclosure at Paraparaumu: Deer-catching at Martiiiborough had been carricd out fairly successfully. .Seven deer were caught, and were brought to Upper Hutt to bo reared. Unfortunately, three died during some rough weather, but a young stag and a hind carno to-hand from Gladstone and six deer .will accordingly bo available for: liberation; : '

HAURANGI RESERVE. / jThe question of opening tho Haurangi Reservo was taken in hand since last report, and on representations being mado to thb Minister for Lands, the northern portion of tho reservo was gazetted open' to stalkers. Tho oponing of tho reserve resulted in a considerable increase ill tho numbpr of''deer stalking licenses takon out.' : THE ANIMALS ACT. . During the year tho Act consolidating the Animals ; Act was passed by Parliament, and tho thanks of the society to tho Government and tho New Zealand Acclimatisation Association for bringing about that''desirable'-end aro' recorded. ' / ! REPORTS OF ' . Tho Eketahiina Committee says very, gratifying reports continue to be received of th'e success of tho deer herds in tho Mangatainoka Valley.'. There is abundaiico of ,food and a large tract of forest country to roam over. "Stags are not yet exterminated, but their numbers have been kept down." The Levin Committee reports a fairly prosperous season. Regarding poaching, the- committee says!—" Systematic lias been'going on for some time in tho Oliau ; the offenders are known, but'it seoms impossible to catch them in-the act." , A reward of £10 has been offered for information that-will load to tho conviction of the "poachers, The Marton'Committeo reports the destruction of 128 hawks and 13 black For hawks' feet 3d. per pair was paid, and 2s. 6d. for shags. No increase of gamo in tbo district can be reported. •