ACCLIMATISATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 123, 26 May 1945, Page 9

ACCLIMATISATION

WELLINGTON SOCIETY'S YEAk

The annual report of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society for the year ended March 31 shows a balance of assets over liabilities of £8243, of which £6769 is cash. Revenue increased by £5042; the expenditure was £1611. Next year the fish hatchery at Masterton will be in full operation, and will cost £1200 that year. The standard of-pheasants bred at the game farm was excellent. The results obtained at the farm were gratifying, 700 birds being liberated. The cost of production was 17s a bird. The former curator of the hatchery, Mr. J. G. Miller, will hatch and rear 1,000.000 fry obtained from the Otago Acclimatisation Society. Contracts have been let for the re-establishment of the hatchery, much of which will be renewed.

Wet weekends largely spoiled the fishing season, but some fair catches were made towards the end of the season, which was one of the worst on record.

The report deals with steps taken in regard to opossums. It is felt that the offer of the societies to deal with opossums in settled areas, provided that the Government supplied portion of the revenue from opossum trapping, will end in the destruction of opossums in these areas in two years. During the year the North Island Vermin Control Board paid £709 for vermin destruction, Wellington's share of the expenditure was £82. Mr. J. H. Keedwell has been appointed curator of the fish hatchery.