ACCLIMATISATION

Evening Star, Issue 21116, 31 May 1932, Page 15

ACCLIMATISATION

OTAGO SOCIETY’S WORK LARGELY-ATTENDED ANNUAL MEETING A largo number of members attended tho annual meeting of tho Otago Acclimatisation Society in tho R.S.A. rooms last night, Mr S. F. Abuni presiding. CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS. The Chairman said, in moving the adoption of the annual report and bal-ance-sheet ; “ In the hard and difficult times the president’s first duty is usually to lament tho unsatisfactory nature of tho past year’s work, but, despite the fact that the net result as revealed in tho report shows a small balance on tho wrong side, I make bold to say that tho report generally details tho results of a highly successful year’s operations, and, further, even tho small deficit is nothing to be surprised at, for naturally fishing, from which wo derive the bulk of our income, may bo looked upon by some as a luxury and therefore to bo cut out when financial stringency bears hard upon us. Personally, I hardly agree with the wisdom of "such a course, for, after all, what finer antidote for feelings of mental depression, so often accompanied by bodily depression, can there be than to sit in the open air and sunshine fishing, which for ages has been known as one of the best means to be taken out of oneself and one’s usual surroundings, and to forgot for a while tho cares of life? Surely it would bo well for all New Zealanders at this .time to lift up their heads a little more looking for that blessing of better times to come, which may be nearer than any of us dare to hope. As in fishing, so in shooting, for what is it that keeps tho sportsman crouched often in an uncomfortable and cheerless position for long stretches except the hope that at any moment a flight of fine fat birds may come within reach of his barrel ? My message to all our members to-night is that we may bring the philosophy of those fine sports that our society 'does so much to foster into our every-day life. They are sports whose outstanding characteristics are surely first patience, which we are told on the highest authority breeds experience, which in turn leads to that we so much need at this time—hope. “ Going a little further, perhaps I may emphasise briefly various points in tho report of special interest, and, as finance is so prominent in all minds at this time, I would remind you that one or two items of working cost have been reduced. However, we know that some tell us that times will he worse before they are better, so that T would urge all interested to endeavour to persuade as many as possible that a fishing license is one of the finest antidotes to present-day worries.

“ The Waitfiti hatchery represents a capital expenditure of no less than £5,465, and during the year it has been further improved by the completion of settling and yearling ponds, with the object and intention of providing as many yearlings as possible in the future. I should b'ke to take this opportunity to refer briefly to the criticisms that we all know have of Into been levelled at the council regarding its management of the society, but all I can say is that, in my opinion, anyone reading our last annual report, if lie be a fair-minded man, must admit that it is the record of a good year’s work by all those interested, and that congratulation rather than criticism should be the outcome of his reading. In regard to the trapping and stripping of trout, _we have had nuite a good year, having taken a good quantity of ova from local streams and some 3,000,000 eggs from Lake Hayes, I would point out that this has been one of the best liberating years in our history, despite the fact that, owing to the exceptionally warm weather in November last, a cause quite beyond our control, we lost a large number of eggs at the hatchery. We made sales of trout ova to the extent of 1,850,000, of the value of £358 13s 4d, while a gift of 150.000 eyed ova was made to the Hawke’s Bay Society. Fry liberated in our own streams comprised 829,000 brown and 341,000 Scotch burn fry and 21,000 rainbow fry, which _ is one of the largest liberations ever yet made by the society in one year. Fingcrlings to the number of 36,000 brown and 7,364 Scotch burn have been liberated, a total of 42,482, and there are yet some 10.000 still to be liberated. I am specially glad to call attention to the fact that two new fishing waters have been placed under our control—namely, the Poolburn and Idabum dams, and we have already proceeded with the stocking of both, and this will be pushed on during the year. “ Owing to our efforts the Government gave a short open season for the shooting of pukeko this year, but in this connection the society is certainly opposed to the Government giving licenses for such shooting without consulting us in the matter, as naturally wo are the best informed as to the local position of this class of game. Acting on our recommend. o tions the Government has ordered a close season for opossums this year. “ On behalf of the society I would emphasise our cordial thanks to all who have assisted in keeping the shag pest : u cheek, especially to those who have done so gratuitously. At the same time, I would urge continued and sustained warfare against these spoilers. I feel that it is also incumbent upon me to say a few words on a very important matter referred to in the report—namely, that of research work. Those of you who have read the report will doubtless have been struck at what you read, and it is surely most gratifying to us all in such times as these to find so striking an advance in the efforts being made to investigate the fish pro-

Mr C. A. Wilson again appealed to anglers to adv : se the society as to the depleted stretches of fishing waters. The Research Committee had indicated that streams in which only small fish were continually caught wore only nursery streams; the committee was doing much valuable work. However, a continuous supply of scales from the various rivers must ho forwarded if the research scheme was to he fully he"°ficial An anneal for assistance to the Research Committee was also made by Mr C. Howes, who predicted increasing sport in salmon fishing in the Otago district. Lakes Hawea and Wanaka were reported to have plentiful supplies of salmon, and one" the anglers found the places on the Molyneux where the fish rested they would get lively sport. Any expenditure on research would be handsomely repaid. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Mr S F. Ahum was rc-clected president. Returning thanks, he said that while for some time past the council had devoted the greater part of its revenue to providing sport for the angler, it proposed when funds allowed to do something for the shooter, and also to have ponds at Waitati for the

various kinds of ducks, cto., not only for show purposes, but also to make ;x study ol their habits. Messrs C. A. Wilson and G. E. Turner wore elected vice-presidents. Eleven nominations were received for the coutncil and after a ballot the following wore elected: —Messrs M. Barratt, S. H. Barnes, G. Howes, J. Maconio, IT. M'Dowoll Smith, H. G. Williams, and W H. Wilson. Messrs firodrick and Chalmer were reappointed auditors. MEMBERSHIP RULE.

Mi H. G. Williams moved—“ That rule 4 bo altered to read as follows: — From the word ‘ society,’ on line five, to tile w«rd ‘license,’ on line nine: ‘ Also any person who shall have taken out a flsWtig or shooting license at a foe of not less than £l, shall, upon signing a form asking that he bo enrolled as a member of the society, be entitled tor full membership privileges for twelve months from the date of such license;.’ ” Mr Willia.ms said that the reason for the motion was obvious. The shooting and fishing, men who supplied 85 per cent, of the society’s revenue should have some say in the affairs of the society. It seemed an anomaly that so many license holders should have no part in tflac business of the society. Tlio motion attracted a lair amount of and Mr G. E. Turner moved, as :ln amendment, that the words “ subject to the approval ol the council ” should be added. Mr'J. R. Wihon moved as a further amendment:—“ That the taking out of a shooting on fishing license and the signing of tho' form referred to in the motion within a month of the purchase of the license should entitle the license holder to fi<ll membership of the society.’’ Mr Turner’s amendment was lost on a show of hajnds, and Mr Wilson’s was carried. GENERAL. The question of tho size of a trout which may be taken was brought up by Mr J. Hutahison, and Mr Howes said that this matter had had the attention of tho Research Committee, which had discovered that a trout caught when 9gn long had never spawned. It was considered by the investigator that} lOin was a better size foi the minimum. Mr H. G. Williams support**! this and tho question was put informally to the meeting, which was, with tlio exception ol two members, of the opinion that tho minimum should be 10m. WORM FISHING, A lengtiiv discuaislou followed on the motion of "Mr H- G. Williams “ That the motion passed? at the council meeting on January £5 prohibiting worm fishing on the Potnahaka River be rescinded.” Tho motion referred to was as followsThdit worm fishing be barred from Ford's bridge to Conical Hills bridge.” The motion was earned by tluriymne votes to sixteen.