ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 21632, 30 January 1934, Page 5

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

MEETING OF COUNCIL ■ Those present at tbo monthly meeting of the council of the Otago Acclimatisation Society last night were Messrs J. H. Stewart (chairman), S. F. Aburn, C. A. Wilson, J. Maconie, W. A. Wilson, S. H. Barnes, A. J. White, H. G. Williams, H. M'Dowell Smith, T. Long. ANGLING COMMITTEE. The Angling Committee’s report stated: —Liberations of young trout in private waters: It was recommended, that m future before liberating the society communicate with the occupiers of such laud and get in writing their permission to allow anglers access to such waters. Correspondence received was as follows: —From the secretary of the Southland Society, recommending a two months’ season i'or duck and seven clays for paradise duck and pukeko.- Received. From the Auckland Society, congratulating the Otago Society on the action taken to prevent the pollution of streams. Received. From T. Cockburn, Waikaia, reporting that 50 birds had been shot on his recent shag-shooting expedition. It was decided to thank the correspondent for his report. From the secretary of the Upper Clutha Anglers’ Association, giving a list of liberations of brown and rainbow fry for the 1933 season. Received, From tbo secretary of, the Otago Anglers’ Association, advising that F; P. Sizemore and T. Speclen were the winners of the Waipahi competition for the society’s medals. Received. From the secretary, Clinton Anglers’ Club, advising that E. G. Gladwin won the competition for the society’s medal. Received. From Professor Percival, /New Zealand Freshwater Research Committee, thanking the society, and particularly Messrs Maconie and Barrntt, for the comprehensive report on the relations between trout and perch in the Otago district. Received. From' G. Howes, Dunedin, forwarding copy of a letter from C. A. Thorn, Mataura, asking for a list of the Mataura anglers who buy Otago licenses and recommending that Mr Thorn be allowed to sell licenses. It was recommended that next year Mr Thorn be appointed one of the society’s agents and that he be supplied with a list of those persons who took out licenses in Mataura this season. From A. E. G. Marwick, Clinton, regarding liberations of fry in the streams in his district. Received. Mr Howes reported that a Mr Albert Roberts, of Roslyn, had caught in ''the Mataura River a trout with an extra fin on the head. Mr Roberts had 'skinned the trout and Mr Howes had sent the skin to the Museum to be mounted. It was decided that Messrs Roberts and Howes be thanked for their trouble, and that any' expense in mounting be borne by the society, the fish to be kept in the secretary’s office. The report was adopted. GAME COMMITTEE.

The Game Committee’s report stated that correspondence had been dealt with as follows; —From the Department of Internal , Affairs —(1) Forwarding 47 opossum statements asked for, and asking for a report later. Received. (2) Acknowledging receipt! of the society’s recommendation for the 1934 game season and saying' the society would be communicated thereupon later. _ Received. (3) Acknowledging receipt; of a letter from Ranger David advising the seizure of six opossum traps and one skin. Received. From Mrs B. Neill, Outram, reporting on the white swans. Received. It was decided that inquiry be made regarding the birds’ nesting habits. From Isaac Taylor, Hunter Valley, advising that he had secured 17 Canadian geese, and asking that crates be sent up. Received. The Chairman stated that the white swans at Outram were doing well, and the general public was invited to, inspect the birds when visiting the district. ' . The X’eport was adopted. \ PHEASANT COMMITTEE.

In its report the Pheasant Committee stated that the curator’s reports had been received, these reporting on the young pheasants hatched under bantams. A request from Woodside for pheasant eggs' had been received,, and it had been decided to reply that there were now no eggs available.— Adopted. GENERAL. Two months' accounts amounting to £339 3s 9d were passed for payment. Various members reported on recent visits to the hatchery, where, everything was quite satistactory. In ci’iticising a recent Press article after a prosecution in connection with the pollution of streams, the Chairman said that the, Otago Society was not the only one acting in this matter in New Zealand. There were fourteen other societies in the country. It was the duty of the local society to take the prosecution in question. Pollution was a most dangerous thing when the interests of the community were considered. The society had not been vindictive in any way. Following the receipt of a report from a local resident on observations regarding the trout fishing in the Mahinerangi Dam, more particularly relating to the gradual deterioration of fish in that locality, Mr Maconie presented an exhaustive report covering the findings of those who were not considered experts in the search for the cause of the decline of trout fishing, particularly in Lake Mahinerangi. The latter report offered a little criticism"’ of the correspondent’s observations on the ground that it was allowable, as a free discussion on such a subject was more likely to lead to a solution and understanding.—The report was adopted. Mr Maconie read a report on behalf of the Scientific Research Committee on an investigation of. several typical rivers in Otago, The rivers visited were the Upper Mataura, Lower Mataura, Wyndham, Mimihan, Warakiki, Deep Stream, Upper Pomahaka, Lower Pomahaka. Upper Clutha, Shag, and Waikouaiti. The committee empha : sised the excellent fishing quality of some of the rivers.—lt was decided that the committee be thanked for a verv full and interesting report. The Chairman stated that he had received reports to the effect that chukor were now well established in the Hunter Valley, and also in the vicinity of Clyde and Croniwell.