WITH ROD AND GUN

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6613, 18 May 1928, Page 12

WITH ROD AND GUN

PEIIiDING ACCidJWATJLSATION SOCIETY. ANNUAL REPORT. The following is the annual report of the Fcilding Acclimatisation Society:— Finance and Fishing. The Society can bo congratulated on concluding a most successful year’s work and presenting a very sfftisfactory position financially. The receipts amounted to £223 as against £232 last year, and the expenditure was £239 as against £296. The slight decrease in revenue is' duo to fewer game licenses having been taken out this season, revenue from this source having dropped by £l3 Is from the previous season.

Fishing this season has not resulted in quite as big bags being obtained as last season, the reason being the discoloured state of the streams and the cold weather up till Christmas and then a long dry spell during which the streams ran very lot/ and fish would not take. Feilding’s Holding Fends. The outstanding feature of the Society’s work in connection with the fishing was the undoubted success of the holding ponds, 14,000 rainbow and 7000 brown fry .being procured from the Hawke’s Bay Society. These wore placed in the ponds during the middle of October, being kept there until Christmas, the final liberation being on December 30. These fry did very well indeed, some of the rainbow being over four inches long when liberated. Mortality was very low, less than 5 per cent.

Allowing for the loss of 1000 the cost o fthc fry delivered into the streams was 2 18/- per 1000. This includes all the cost of alterations to the ponds. The success obtained this season was partly duo to the increased water supply wo were fortunate in securing and to the air injection system designed by Mr B. F. Durrant. But it was in no small measure duo to the unremitting care and attention Mr J. H. Hurdle bestowed upon the fry during the whole time they were in the ponds. Mr Hurdle undertook the whole oaro and feeding of the fry, and the 'success obtained is very largely the result of his work. With the Gun.

The weather was exceptionally windy at the opening of the season, and big bags of duel: were not general though most spotrsmen who were out were successful in obtaining some birds. Pheasants are reported to be increasing in several localities and with the cessation of rabbit poisoning with phosphorised pollard, quail arc increasing again. A short season for pukeko has again been granted as these birds have increased rapidly throughout the district and do considerable damage to crops. Pheasants were again liberated during the year, 48 birds being procured from Mrs J. H. Signal, of Onepuhi and distributed at various points throughout the district. The consignment of Hungarian partridge ordered through the Auckland Society came to hand in March and were duly TiberafCt!. The birds arrived in excellent condition, and so far arc reported to be doing well. It is hoped that they will be more successful than the previous consignment, which gradually disapper, red, chiefly through the tioprodations of poachers. Shags, Hawks, Deer.

The Society paid out £G IG/G for. shags’ feet, a total of 5G shags being destroyed. These came principally from the Pohangina district, and the thanks of the Society arc due to Mr I’. W. Arbon for the trouble he has taken in ridding the district of these pests. There wore 54G pair of hawks’ feet brought in, the amount paid out being £0 .IG/G. With the disappearance of Iho rabbits throughout, the district stoats and ferrets arc becoming a serious menace to our game, and it will become necessary to consider some means of getting rid of them. The deer season opened, on March 15 and closed on April 50, fewer licenses being taken out than last year. Some good heads wore taken, including one ,1-l poinlcr, but generally the heads seem to have been on the small side. There was again no restriction to the number of stags or hinds which may be shot. Considerable poaching went on during the season, and this will have its sequel later in Court. Thanhs Returned. Those members of the Council and others who assisted iu the liberation of game and I di are again accorded a very hourly vote of thanks. Our thanks tire also due to the Hawke’s Bay .Society for supplies of fry which arrived in excellent condition,-and to their curator, Mr Anderson, for valuable help and advice regarding them. We have also to thank the Police Department ami the .Society's rangers for their valuable co-operation in ad-

ministering the regulations, and to the press for giving prominence to matters of general interest .