ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 18035, 1 August 1922, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

' DISPOSING OF OPOSSUM SKINS. Mr G. W. MTutosh presided over the monthly meeting of the council of' the Otago "Acclimatisation Society, hold, last evening. The Chairman mentioned that opossum skins were being sent to the city packed amongst rabbit-skins, and said- that it seemed to him that it was necessary to get a regulation passed . prohibiting such a practice. Ho suggested that the society should ask for a special regulation to bo put through that opossum skins must not be packed with any other skins, and that opossum skins must bo sent to the auction sales to bo disposed of. The society wanted to protect the opossum industry. It was decided Hi at the Government be approached with a request to arrange for a regulation to meet the case. ANGLING COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The Angling Committee’s report mentioned the receipt of tho curator’s report recommending that 200,000 rainbow eggs be procured, if possible, at Lake Ha-wea-, and • that 25,000 of these too sent to the Inspector of Fisheries and Game, Melbourne, free of cost; the South Canterbury and Waimate Societies to he advised that the society could not supply yearlings this year, as it was short. The committee reported having received letters from the New Zealand Railway Department regretting inability to issue a free pass to a ranger; from the Marine Department, enclosing a copy of the regulations providing for the taking of salmon for experimental purposes; and from the Department of Internal Affairs asking for certificates of good character of persons nominated as honorary rangers. A letter from the Marine Department as to the construction of. fish ladders in dams placed in trout streams for bydro-elcctric purpose's had been referred to the council. The committee recommended -that the Southland Society -bo quoted 2Ss per 1,000 for rainbow fry. An order had been received from the Taranaki Society for 50,000 brown and 25,000 rainbow ova. A letter had been received from the Inspector of Fisheries and Game, Melbourne, stating that ho hoped 1 to forward another lot of shrimps in a few weeks. Mr S. Service, Dunedin, had written saying some of tho shrimps in his tanks were still alive; and Mr G. Howes, Dunedin, had -stated that tho shrimps received from Melbourne had been identified as Zithocaris Comprcssa. A petition from anglers rgarding the -removal of an obstruction in the Gatlins River had been referred to the- council. The committee recommended- that Messrs Williams and Holmes bo thanked for taking the trout of the Tomahawk Lagoon. Mr O. Wilson, in moving the adoption of the report, mentioned that one of tho important matters was tho question of fish ladders for dams constructed for hydroelectric purposes. It was necessary these should be put in. The Chairman suggested -that the society write to the secretary of the Marino Department drawing his attention to the importance of the matter, and this course was agreed to. Mr Wilson remarked that the society did not know how far hydro-elccl-rio work might interfere with the rivers. Ho also mentioned the -block of logs in the Gatlins River, and stated that neither the Clntha County Council nor the Government would accept any responsibility. It would take a considerable sum of money to shift the obstruction, and if the society caused it to go lower down the river it might be held liable for anything that happened. The report was adopted. GAME COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

The Game Committee reported that tho Department of Internal Affairs had written advising that the price for issuing deer and game licenses had been reduced to 2s per license. The department advised the appointment of Messrs Keith and Button as rangers, and gave the names of brokers licensed to sell opossum skins. Tho letters had been received. Tho committee recommended that the Nelson Society be asked for the price of Californian quail. The Auckland Society had quoted 5s a pair. Mr Hay having reported on cases submitted to him, the committee recommended that no farther action be taken. The ballot for stalking blocks for 1923, Hawea red deer herd, had resulted as follows:—Block 15, Messrs Kirkley and Bayly (South Africa); block 16, Messrs Sutherland and party; -block 30, Messrs Ahum and party ; block 31, Messrs Cousins and Brook; block 32, Mr J. Black (Tapanui) and friend ; block 53, Mr D. B. Shaud and friend; block 34, -Messrs Wilson and Studholmc. Tho committee recommended that block 35 be given to His Excellency tho Governor; that 35a be included in tho block, and that the society supply two guides. The committee further recommended that Messrs A. Cowie, jun., and J. Buckley bo. appointed guides. With regard to Mocks not -already allotted, Die committee recommended that they be offered to unsuccessful applicants, and allotted in the order of priority of application. The report was adopted, OTHER BUSINESS. Several letters on tho question of the introduction of plover into New Zealand were referred- to the Game Committee, with power to act.