ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 18083, 26 September 1922, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

—» THE MONTHLY MEETING. Mr G. W. M‘ln.tosh presided over the monthly meeting of the council of the Otago ’Acclimatisation Society, hold! lent The regulations with regard to shooting were discussed, and some comments were passed as to limiting the number of decoys to be used. It was pointed out that a, sportsman’s bag was limited to twenty-five ducks, and that the question was not at all how many decoys were displayed. —It was decided to object to limiting tho number of decoys on the ground mentioned. ANGLING COMMITTEE. The Angling Committee reported that the secretary of tho Ashburton Society had written asking the Otago Society to support an effort which was being mads to prevent “stroke hauling” by getting a regulation put through making it illegal to use a bamboo rod in one jliece. A letter had also been received from the Secretary ■ of the Marino Department asking for the Otago Society’s views on the matter. The Acting Chief Inspector of ‘Fisheries and Game at Melbourne had written saying that he hoped to arrange for a further consignment of shrimps to be sent to the Otago Society in its own receptacles. Mr A. E. Tapper, of Invercargill, wrote stating, that fresh-water shrimps were numerous In the Oreti, WaiIciwi, and other streams, and offering to supply a quantity at a nominal cost. Tho secretary had been instructed to reply that the society would be very 'pleased to accept the offer, and also to ask the Southland Society if it bad any objection to the society obtaining a supply. Tho committee recommended that several cel traps bo sent to the Waipahi District Anglers’ Club on condition that the club furnish regular returns of catches and pay for any traps that may be lost. It was recommended that an eel pot bo forwarded to Mr T. Parratt, of Mokoreta, on. the usual terms. It was also recommended that Mr it. Coofcburn, of Roxburgh, be informed that if the anglers in. tho vicinity of Roxburgh should gffcr £3Q f« a, hut at Lake On-

slow for the use of anglers the Otago Sci-et.y would be agreeable to pay £ls towards the purchase of the hut. Mr R. List, of Awamangu, wrote offering to spend several days shooting shags providedl the society supplied the necessary ammunition.—lt was recommended that 100 cartridges bo forwarded to Mr List. The committee recommended that the season for trout fishing in Sullivan’s Dam be from October 1 to April 30, and that the society contribute up to £2 towards the cost of repairing the hut at Tomahawk, provided the Anglers' Association would also contribute to the cost _ of repairs. The curator’s report was received and approved, and the secretary was instructed to ascertain the number of yearlings available for allocation.—After discussion, the council decided to support the Ashburton Society in its effort to prevent “stroke hauling,” The report was adopted. GAME COMMITTEE. The Game Committee reported that the Department of Internal Affairs had forwarded a copy of the warrant issued to Mr Ri. J. Dunning authorising him to kill deer creating damage on his property. The Department of Internal Affairs had also noti'ned the necessity of obtaining the Minister’s consent before liberating quail. The department had also acknowledged receipt of the report of the society’s rangers regarding poisoning of opossums. A communication had neon received from the New Zealand Government Offices in London asking for information regarding plover. It had been decided that copies of the letters bo forwarded to the Southland, -Society asking if it was willing to assist in bringing a number of the birds out to New Zealand. The secretary of the Ashburton Society had written stating that he hoped to forward an order for opossums very shortly. The New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies’ Association had written in regard to the minimum penalty which should be imposed for shooting without a license, and 1 it had been decided that a reply bo sent to the effect that the society considered this was a matter for the conference to settle. Letters had been received from -the Southland -Society agreeing to co-operate with the Otago Society in its endeavor to retain protection for opossums, and suggesting that the shooting season should close on July 15; also recommending that the godwit season be February and March-. The committee had agreed that the shooting season close on July 15, and decided to inform the Southland Society that the Otago Society had already applied for Januaiy, February, and March for the godwit* season. The committee recommended that the applications of Messrs P. Muir and G. Murphy, of Hawea Flat, to shoot deer’ for meat be also recommended that the application of Mr D. Allan, of Dunedin, for the use of block 26 bo granted. The report was adopted.