ROD AND GUN SPORT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 100, 27 March 1936, Page 13

ROD AND GUN SPORT

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY. PALMERSTON NORTH BRANCH. The monthly meeting of the committee and the annual general meeting of the Palmerston v North branch of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society were hold last evening Mr R. W. Priest presiding. The following members of the committee were present:—Messrs E. G. Matthews, W. Procter, H. W. Scott, F. Haley, T. Andrews, W. Woodmore, E. E. Ward, W. Rowlands, W. H. Seward, C. Nielsen, J. P. Evans, W. H. Hosking, and W. R. Procter (secretary). Present as representatives of the Wellington Council were Dr. G. F. Y. Anson (chairman), Messrs E. J. C. Wiffin (secretary), A. Seed, and C. E. Aldridge. Mr O. Wickham, the secretary of the Feilding Committee, was also present. Mr Priest welcomed the visitors and expressed pleasure that there was a large attendance, evidencing interest in the society’s work. Mr G. T. Anery, bon. secretary of the Marton branch, conveyed appreciation for the generous gift of 30,000 rainbow fry, which had been liberated in suitable lakes in the district.—Received.

The secretary of the Wellington Society advised that there had been applications from various sources for a winter season for perch fishing at a license fee of ss. Before going into the question, it was desired to obtain, particulars with regard I to the waters in the Manawatu district and any other information of value. An opinion was also desired on the advisability of such a season being observed, i The matter was laid before the general : meeting, when the ranger expressed the opinion that there were only two lagoons in the district containing perch. In any case, property-owners would probably not agree to trespasses during the shooting season. Mr Seed said the suggestion for a season had emanated from the Wairarapa, which district sought a reduction of the number of perch in the streams there. It was desired by the fish committee that, if it were possible, other districts should also benefit by the proposed concession to the Wairarapa. It was proposed that the season extend from May 1 to August . and it was believed that few trout i would be caught, as they would then be up the rivers spawning. As chairman of I the fish committee, Mr Seed looked upon the matter purely as an experiment. It was decided that the ranger furnish a report on the situation. Ranger Andrews reported that the game-breeding season appeared to be an exceptionally late one. He had seen several broods of young pheasants no more than a quarter-grown. This applied also to quails. On February 25 he had observed at Wangaehu one clutch not more than a day old, and another not much older. Several nests of pheasant eggs had been found after the mowing of pea crops near Foxton. Mr Andrews said it would appear that the heavy rainfall in the spring and early summer accounted for such late breeding. The report (previously published in the “Standard”) was read and adopted together with the balance-sheet, showing a credit balance of £2 17s 2d. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE. The election of the committee resulted as follows :—Committee, Messrs Ward, Procter (2‘, Hosking, Priest, Nielson, H. W. Scott, Rowlands, Matthews, Woodmore, 11. Lane, C. Lane, Haley, Seward, A. H. Marshall, F. Orr and F. Withers. Mr Seed paid a high tribute to Mr Priest’s representation of the branch on the council. His courtesy of hard work had been most praiseworthy.. Dr. Anson expressed pleasure at being able to attend the meeting. As far as possible no parochial element had enered the society’s operations. It was a difficult problem to efficiently administer the various areas, improved transport facilities enabling sportsman to cover much more ground. The aim in view was to supply more sport as cheaply as possible, hut such a policy could not be enumerated without the support of the body of license-holders. The Minister of Internal Affairs was himself a sportsman —a unique position—and he had declared that sportsmen had to answer the question as to wether they desired field game. It was, perhaps unfortunately, true that on some matters sportsmen did not know their own minds, disturbing the confidence of the Government in the society. Let there be criticism, but through the proper channels, and constructively, said Dr. Anson. Mr Matthews contended that the Government had appropriated the society’s main revenue, that from opossums, and said endeavours should bo made to have it reinstated. NEED FOR RESEARCH. Speaking chiefly m regard to fishing, Mr Seed said his aim had been to do the utmost in liberation and protection allowed by revenue. This work had to a certain extent been crippled by loss of much of the opossum revenue—indeed it was not known if any such revenue would have been obtained in the coming season. After meeting the expenses of ranging, etc., only 40 per cent of the fishing revenue remained, this being sufficient for a great deal of work to be performed. He was convinced that much of the effort in liberating fry was wasted, because of factors of which they were yet in ignorance. Tho major aim should Be to determine these factors. Shags, gulls, and eels had increased, and evidence had been secured that in a few weeks one or two shags would rob rivers of infinitely more fish than would rods. He was going to ask license-holders to allow the fry liberation for this season only to be restricted to enable money to be spent in scientifically waging of war on shags and eels. He did not advocate the paying of bonuses, hut the employment of a dependable man to kill eels and shags for, say, six months, keeping a record of the stomach contents. Mr Seed said that in the past few years he had been firmly convinced that we required a greater knowledge of our riversthere was a wide divergence of opinion even among experts on certain questions, based on opinion, largely, and not on ascertained fact. He was strongly in favour of- the fresh water fish research being continued. Mr Wiffin, dealing with game, said an incubator had been installed at the game' farm, with a brooder and brooder houses, the - result justifying the launching of a system of incubator hatching jn the future. The endeavour in liberating pheasants was to treat all districts fairly and place the birds in suitable areas. In his opinion, it was imperative that the £1 fee be increased to improve the sport. The council sought the co-operation of the sub-districts for the advancement of the work of the attainment of unity. On Mr Priest’s motion the Wellington visitors were acordced a warm vote of appreciation for their attendance and explanations.

Mr Wickham expressed pleasure at being present as the representative of Feilding and the hope that the present cordial relations would continue to exist.

A resolution was carried thanking the land-owners of the district for their cooperation in permitting access to their properties. The Press was also accorded a vote of thanks.

At a subsequent meeting of. the committee, Mr Priest was unanimously reelected j chairman and delegate to the council.

Mr Procter was re-elected secretary unopposed, and Mr P. S. Larcomb was reappointed hon. auditor. It was decided that meetings continue to be held on the last Thursday of the month.