ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 8118, 18 January 1890, Page 3 (Supplement)

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A meeting of the Council of the Acclima tisation Society was held yesterday afternoon and attended by Messrs J. P. Maitland (chairman), Clifford, Wilkie (secrecary), Campbell, P. C. Neill, Chisholm, Carlton, G. M. Thomson, Begg, Marshall, Edgar, Pillans, and Deans (manager). The Secretary said that the first business was the matter of a trap for the distribution of ova.—The Chairman said that the trap, an old one when bought, had gone to pieces while on a trip to Clinton. Another one, nearly new, could be bought for L 32. Purchase authorised.

It was decided to take steps for the removal of a dam at the mouth of Catlin River.—Mr Carlton said that the dam made a level sheet of water, and prevented the fish from getting up. Settlers wrote asking that the use of Btake nets might be permitted in Waihola Lake, the lake being so full of snags that Seine nets could not be used. A letter was received from a man who asked to be appointed ranger for the lake, so that he might prevent the use of stake nets, by which trout were taken by persons professing to fish for mullet and flounders. In connection with this subject the secretary said the ranger reported that trout were openly taken and sold at Fottrose.—lt was resolved to decline the request for permission to use stake nets, and to prosecute if any person were found using them ; the question a3 to appointing the ranger to stand over in the meantime.

Mr Deans reported as follows:—"Thi3 has been a particularly busy season with us, the large number of salmon ova imported by the Government and distributed between the Southland and the Otago societies having added largely to the amount of care and attention necessary in the hatching and rearing of young fry. The salmon ova having hatched exceedingly well, it was found necessary for the purpose of giving them sufficient t'oom to erect a large nursery at Clinton. At a cost of about L7O a house 60ft by 20ft has been built in a substantial manner and fitted up with thirty-six rearing boxes ; and to these the young salmon wore transferred when about three months old. Lately it was decided to liberate them at once in the Aparima. So up to the present; m have liberated about 75,000 in that river, and 10,000 in the Oreti, the latter number having to be placed there owing to the hot weather prevailing at the time. I estimate there will be upwards of 150 000 still to liberate. I would recommend that , t ! lf L£ rogen y of our own salmon, some 10,000, be also liberated in the Aparima. We have also been busy with the other kind of fry, and the following numbers have been liberated .--Brown trout-, about 270,000 ; American brook trout, GO 000 • Loch Leven trout, 40,000; and Scotch burn trout, 12,000. The remaining numbers will be turned out as soon as possible. The quantities of ova disposed of last season f5 n e „„ a3 t fol ] owa :-Brown trout-Auckland 10,000, Keefton 20,000 ; brook trout-Auck-land 5,000, and Tauranga 4,000. ... I am pleased to state that the various railway officials are most considerate and obliging." —After considerable discussion, it was resolved that 2,000 of the society's own salmon should be put into the Arthur River (running into Milford Sound), and the remainder into the Upper Mataura.

Mr Begg mentioned tint the two Japanese deer turned out at Otekaike lmd increased to nine. Mr Chisholm stated that last year he took over 1,000 Scotch burn trout to the creek running through Whare Flat into the Silverstream. When over that Way the other day he saw two or three fish from 4in to Gin long, so that they appeared to be thriving. Mr " GmsHOLM brought forward his motion, of which'notice had been giVen at a previous meeting, to the effect that Ranger Burt's salary be raised to L 125, and that his son receive L 25 for his servioes to the society. It was suggested that the motion stand over on the understanding that Mr Burt and his son should each receive e. bonus at the end of the financial year if the funds permitted of bonuses being given.—The mover ngreed to the suggestion. The Secretary reported that several parties had applied to have eebpots sent to tren for use in waters where fish had been liberated. Large takes of eeh had been made by some who had used the pots. It was resolved that Mr Clifford be'requested to visit and report upon the Clinton hatchery.