ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5597, 1 February 1879, Page 5

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The annual general meeting of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society was held last night, at the Commercial Hotel. The following members were present Sir J. Cracroft Wilson (Chairman), Hon J. T. Peacock, Dr Frankish, and Messrs Hill, Blakiston, Boys, and Farr (Hon. Sec.). ANNUAL REPORT, The Hon. Secretary read the following:— TIFTEBNTH ANNUAL REPORT. “ The Council have much pleasure in submitting the fifteenth annual report, with balance-sheet to Dec. 31,1878. Nothing remarkable occurred during the year in the Society’s works until the trout-hatching season commenced, the success of which has surpassed every previous season, and far beyond our most sanguine expectations, as will be shown hereafter. “ In February the Society received 20,000 ova of the white fish ( Coregonus albus) through the New Zealand Government from America, but we regret to state that only 12 were hatched, out of which only eight survived. These were taken to Lake Coleridge, and liberated in a small tributary, by the Chairman, Sir J. Cracroft Wilson. “ In March last the Council deemed it advisable to appoint some person to prevent the unlawful destruction 01 game and fish, and feeling assured that a considerable amount of poaching was being carried on, a gamekeeper was advertised for, and out of 85 applicants, Mr David Douglas was chosen. The Council have every reason to believe he has been of good service, a fair sum having accrued by fines in the Magistrates’ Courts. Still, through the district being of such an extent, he is, unable to achieve all that is necessary, and the Council trust that ere long they may be enabled to appoint another. “The24oyoung salmon remaining in the fish house from last season were liberated in the river Heathcote by the Chairman, and during the year reports have been received of salmon have been seen and caught, and little doubt remains about their success, some having been taken 12 and 14 inches in length and sold among some trout. “Five hundred and twenty Californian quail have been purchased, from Nelson, during the year, liberated in various localities, and are doing well. “In September hist your Council resolved to send to England for another shipment of English game and insectivorous birds, and to secure, if possible, the services of Mr R. Bills for that purpose, as he had been very successful on former occasions. He was accordingly sent for from Victoria, and arrived in October, when final arrangements were made for a large number and variety, and your Council would here acknowledge their obligations to the Directors of the New Zealand Shipping Company for their very liberal engagement to give effect to the interests of the Society in this matter. “ For list of birds sent for see appendix. “We now come to the final and most successful -work of the year, viz., the hatching out and distribution of more than 21,000 fry of the brown trout. It has proved to be an unparalleled season, and too great praise cannot be awarded to the Curator, whose unwearied attention to, and interest in, the necessary labour solely for the welfare of the Society has been most evident, and those who have been associated with him in the work hare much pleasure in bearing testimony to the fact. “ The number distributed, and the streams in which they were placed, will be found in the appendix, and although there have been a few partial failures through the hot north-west winds, on the whole the removals have been veiy successful. “ Correspondence with agents and others in America have been instituted, whereby the Society may anticipate the arrival of a variety of suitable game and fish from California and the Eastern States, as also seeds of the sugar maple, and other useful and ornamental trees. The hearty thanks of the Society are due to Professor S. Baird, Commissioner of American Fisheries, and also to Livingstone -Stone, Esq., for the great interest taken in furthering the wishes of the Society. R. Creighton, Esq., of San Francisco, has also taken a great interest in procuring ‘ Prairie chickens’ for the Society, but owing to circumstances his attempts have proved unsuccessful. But steps have been taken which may prove a success next season, Our thanks therefore are due to him for what has been done. “ In conclusion, your Council express their regret at the apathy exhibited by the general public, in the work undertaken by the Society —of which the amount received for subscription can testify—and had it not been for licenses and fees, the efforts of the Society would have been thoroughly impeded, if not brought to a close. “ The Society’s most hearty thanks are due to the Railway Commissioner, W- D. Conyers, Esq., and the Railway Manager, F. Back, Esq., for their very kind courtesy and arrangements for the transit of game and fish throughout the season. Thanks are also due to the railway employees generally for their assistance and attention. “ S. 0. Fare, Hon. See." The report was adopted on the motion of Dr Frankish; seconded by Mr Blakiston. NEW COUNCIL. On the motion of Dr Frankish, seconded by Mr Hill, the following were elected the Council for the ensuing year:—Sir J. 0. Wilson, Hon J. T. Peacock, Mr S. 0. Farr, 1 Dr Frankish, and Messrs Blakiston, Boys, Hill, Marshman, Garrick, Whitefoord, T. Acland,- • and Mellish. Sir Cracroft Wilson 1 was elected Ohairman, and Dr Frankish and ■ Mr Boys elected Vice-Chairmen. Mr S. 1 C. Farr was re-elected Secretary and ] Treasurer.. ■ Mr Hill proposed'- that, as a mark of the SooietyV.apprqqiatwpjqLtbe jnterest,(akeu by 1 Mr Far? in thewelf«f6 q£ thOjSooiety, and d tbei arduous duties which bo - had, fulfilled 1 , '■ d be . elected a life : member. 1 The motion was cordially agreed to. j i larden Com* 1

mittee:—Sir J. C. Wilson, Dr Frankish, Hon. J. T. Peacock, and Messrs S, C. Farr, Blakiston, Boys, and Hill. 'WHITE PISH OVA. The following telegram, received that afternoon by the Secretary from Wellington, was read: —“ One million white fish ova will arrive from ’Frisco at Auckland on twelfth prox. It is unknown how they are packed, jut one-fourth will bo sent you for Lake Coleridge, Please make preparations to receive and hatch. Letter by post.—A. M. Smith.” petition. A petition from trout fishers was read. It called attention to the fact that trout are being caught by means which were considered illegal. The petition was to the effect of the resolutions which were agreed upon at the meeting held a few nights ago. After some discussion, the petition was referred to the Council. The meeting then adjournecL