ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 8527, 28 May 1891, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The following are the prinoipal portions of the report of the outgoing Council : During the past season the Council's operations were almost entirely confined to piscicultural matteis. The Council discussed the introduction of winged game, but the surrounding circumstances are so adverse that they cannot advise any bteps being taken at present, or bo long as poisoned grain is so largely distributed over the country, English Salmon.—Nothing has yet been Been of these fish after their return from the Bea. The estuary of the Aparima has been netted several times within the last month, with the objeot of ascertaining if any grilse or smolts are there, but up to the present without success. Netting will be oontlnued at intervals there, as well as in the pools of the river. The present stock of salmon in the ponds is doing well. They produced over 20,000 ova this season, 1,000 of which went to Wellington, 7,000 fry were liberated in the Waiwera, 7,000 in the Owake, 3,000 were sent to Lake Ada (at the head of the Arthur River, Milford Sound), and 800 were retained aa stock fish, Mr G. P. Clifford again volunteered to take the fry round to the Sounds, which he accomplished with very little loss. The fry put into the Waiwera have done very well, and have been seen in large numbers up to ten inches long, They disappeared during a fresh in the river in the beginning of November, and it is hoped the most of them reached the salt water in safety, aud will return again. Rhine Salmon.—These fish, although four years old, and thriving well, have not, as yet, produced any ova; but it ia very probable some may be obtained from them next season. Rhine Trout.—From these fish we have got 300 or 400 bright and healthy fry, six months old.

Brown Trout.—Our supply of ova this season was obtained entirely from the rivers by our manager (Mr Deans) and Ranger Burt, the latter being very fortunate in the Clinton district, the rivers being in splendid order just at the right time; and while prosecuting his labors several fish over 201b in weight passed through his hands. Besides supplying other districts with ova and fry, we distributed 284,080 fry in our streams. Mr M'Connoohle, of St. Bathan, has hatohed, reared, and distributed 8,000 fry in that district this season, This is a great assistance to the society, it being a very risky matter transferring fry such a distance from headquarters. Loch Leven Trout.—These fish, having been placed in the largest pond at the Clinton hatchery, are doing remarkably well. The ova procured from them this season was 60,000, and the number of fry distributed 56,000 Some good specimens cf this fish are reported as being caught in the Waipahi and Pomahaka this season.

Scotch Burn Trout.—-About 15,000 ova were obtained from these fish this season, 13,C00 fry were liberated and 1,000 kept for stock. The demand for this class is increasing, being very suitable, especially for small streams, American Brook Trout.—This class produced 90,000 ova. 76,500 fry were liberated; but, notwithstanding the large quantity whioh have been pub into our streams for the last few years, very few have been taken by our anglers, only an odd one being reported now and again. Perch.—These flßh are becoming very numerous iu some of the lakes and lagoons. Kaitaugata Lake and Lovell Creek are simply swarming with them, affording capital sport. The society are now issuing licenses to fish for perch at ss, the season opening on the 15th December,

Tench.—Having only a few parent fish on hand we have placed them in better quarters, and expect a larger increase in future. Golden Carp.—We have a few of these of a mixed character—dark and red—but have had no increase.

Fishing Season.—Notwithstanding the past dry season oar license holders have no reason to complain of the scarcity of fish. From reports received from all quarters we find that on all rivers free of diggers' "tailings" the takes have been above the average, and the fish found in capital condition. On the Pomahaka, many good basket* of splendid were taken. This is very gratifying, seeing that a few yeais ago the reverse was the case. The river has been heavily fished by our license holders and visitors from Victoria and elsewhere. Mr Thomas E. Brewn, of this Oity, fishing the lower waters, killed in six hours, twelve fish, weighing 52ib, all in peifect condition. Mr Geo. Munro had twelve fish, weighing 341b, one day's fishing. Messrs Marshall and Ohisholm spent three days in the same locality, and had very good sport, killing between them thirty-seven fish, weighing 1381b. The "Water of Leith and streams near town yielded good baskets to those anglers who fished them in the early part of the season ; but owing to the dry season the takes were small after Christmas. The Walpahi, and the streams in the neighborhood of Clinton, have furnished capital Bport to the Southern residents, and we are pleased to observe so many boys taking out licenses In the town and country districts, having issued eight;-one licenses this season. The Clutha and its tributaries have afforded capital sport, j The trout in the Clutha are increasing fast, and are very numerous a long way up the river, one rod killing as much as 901b weight of fish in one evening above Cromwell. Thefishcaughtnearthe I mouth ot the river are pronounced as good as salmon. The upper reaches of the M&taura i have also yielded good baskets. Many oJ out old visitors from the North Island again ro-' turned to their favorite haunts in this stream, and were very successful. The Waiiaia, a j river not far from Switzers, although not much j "kno-wri to ang\era, ia a fine river for trout. 1 Messrs Marshall, Ohisholm, and Brown vißited [ it late in the seasor, and had very good sport, speakiDg very highly of this liver and its tributarie?, Gow Creek aDd Dome Creek. Mr Christie, a settler in the district, during the past season killed a large quantity of fine trout. The Mimihau and Otarala have both been very heavily fished this seasoD, and yielded their nsual number of fine trout; baskets from 301b to 40'.b weight were of frequent occurrence. Mr M»tthew Lown°, fishing the Mimihau principally, killed this season 241 fish, averaging 3ib. The Council urge on all anglers the necessity of i keeping down poaching. The practice is carried on in many districts to a great extent, but unless anglers and the settlers take a stand against it the society can do very little to prevent poaching. It Is probable that a trial shipment of crabs \ and iobsterß from tine Old Country will be made shortly. I The variouß nerds of deer are doing well. i The number oi deer-stalkers ia lucxe&sing, and a goodly number of stags have been shot this season both in the Hawea district and at I Tapanul; but the Council regret very much to state that, from observations, a great many I does have also been shot and allowed to lie on the hill sides. A few young stags, not h»lf ■ grown, were also brought home. This is most I objectionable. The aim of all good sportsmen should bo to get a good head, and by leaving the little fellows alone they will ultimately produce good heads. *^ The society do not see their way to Introduce any winged game at present. Our native game birds are fairly numerous, and if more protection coal J be afforded these, better results would be achieved than by endeavoring to introduce new species. But the Oounoll protest against the wholesale slaughter of the native pigeon by some of our sportsmen, and advise them when they have shot enough for their own use and that of a few frlendß to be content. The Council procured from the Southland society seventeen pairs of opossums, and liberated them in three different parts of the country, notwithstanding the opposition shown j by a few parties to the introduction of the opossum to our forests. The soolety feel convinced that they will ultimately be much sought after for their fur, and will do very little harm t indeed to any orchard or garden; in fact, they avoid the abode of man as muoh as possible, and when liberated in a large forest will never be a trouble to anyone. Steps should be taken to have opossums put into the vast forests on our west coast. It is a well-known fact that | the fur of the New Zealand opossum is much ! more valuable than any produced In the Australian colonies. Of the late Mr James Wilkie, who was an I enthusiastic member of the Council, and for four years filled the position of secretary, the Council say.—" From his very large amount of information and experience, he was continually consulted by the members and public, to whom he was always willing to impart all he knew; and it will be a long time before the memory of Mr Wilkie fades from the minds of all thoße conneoted with acclimatisation matters."