OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 12207, 27 May 1904, Page 4

OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

iip . ! The annual meeting of the above, society was held in the Land Board room this afternoon. Mr A. C. Begg (president) occupied the cha ; r, and among those present were Messrs R. Chisholm, T. Brown, J. Edgar, J. Sinclair Thomson, J. Arkle, J. Hazlett, F. 0. Bridgeman, F. Deans (mamger), D. Russell (secretary), W. C. MacGregor, D. Cooke, H. Cru.4, R. Forrest, D. Barron, A. G. Fenwick, D. Crawford, W. G. Somerville, and Dr De Lautour. Messrs S. M'Donald, R. T. Wheeler, jun., A. E. Farqnhar, and the Hon. T. Fergus apo'ogis d for their absence. The annual report stated that the revenue Mas £1,460 and the expenditure £1,652. The extra expenditure was due to the erection of anglers' huts on some of the best streams. The fry distributed during the season were 684.000 brown, 152,000 Loch Leven, ?5,000 American brook, aitf 87,000 Scotch burn trout. Larger ponds at Clinton property were suggested to krep up the supply. 'During the year 1,033 fishing licenses were issued. Mr Edcrar, the treasurer, stated that the balance-sheet wa* a record one from an incoming and outgoing point of view. There , a balance of £359 15s Bd. ' The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, said that the fish hatchery was now completed, and experiments would soon be started with some of our native fish. He thoueht that it was a good thing thev had erected huts for anglers, because there were large stretches of fishing water inacccwible on account of there being no accommodation. -The sport of angling was getting a great hold on the community, and there was a large increase in the number of young men'taking out, licenses. Speaking on the question oi flax-mills poisoning the water, he said that I they should be compelled to keep their refuse out of the streams, the same as sawmills. They felt that in future no more than one liceu»e should be given to one deer .'talker. The opening of the season for the shooting of native game had been a month later this season, "and it had had a beneficial effect on the supply of game. J'he. fishing had been good, but certain rivers had i suffered by netting at the months. Probably legislation would be introduced this session making the law more definite on ; that point. Ihe society felt that netting should be stopped. He thought that everyone would agree that it would be a bad dav for sportsmen if acclimatita'tion societies were done away with and the functions assumed by the Government. Mr R. Chisholm seconded the motion, which was carried. On th-. motion of Mr Edgar, Mr Russell and Mr Deans were each given a bonus of £25, and £lO was given to Mr Steven. Mr A. C. Begg was re-elected president, Messrs R. Chisholm and T. Brown vicepresidents, Mr D Russell secretary, and Mr J. Edgar treasurer. • Messrs CD. R. Richardson and A. C. Stronach (the retiring members of the Council) were reelected, and Mr D. Crawford was again appointed auditor. A vote of thanks was accorded the officers of the society for their services.