Sportsmen Meet to Consider Activities

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7298, 27 October 1933, Page 12

Sportsmen Meet to Consider Activities

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY BRANCH.

Mr E. G. Matthews presided over the monthly meeting of tho Palmerston North branch of tho Wellington Acclimatisation Society last evening. Others present were Messrs D. A. Scott, It. W. Priest, E. E. Ward, N. G. Ingham, W. E. Ward, K. Thorburn, E. Procter, W. FI, Hosking, W. Puklowski, H. Seward, M. A. Palmer, C. -rage, and A. H. Marshall. Good Opossum Season. Mr P. Willson, ranger, in his report stated that during the early part of tho opossum season conditions wero rather -wet but; had improved greatly during the past few weeks. Eor the two-month season from July I to August 31 a record number of skins was taken. The Wellington stamping machine registered 7-1,000, and over 73,000 were taken in the Wellington district, with the skins from Palmerston North yet to be added to tho tally. The skins, although of poor quality early in tho season, had greatly improved later. It appeared, however, that the season was four weeks too early. Most of tho trappers wero well satisfied with their killings, and up to £2BO was earned by ono man. Tho prices averaged 3s for the first fortnight, improving to 6s, while the highest recorded for a big line was 7s Cd. In all about 500 men wero engaged in trapping activities in the district. Trout Try Releases. Ranger T. Andrews reported that 60,000 brown fry were liberated in the tributaries of the Mauawatu river, and 25,000 in the Tokomaru stream. Pive hundred rainbow yearlings were liberated at Shannon at Croon’s Crrtpk, and 7000 fry at the top of the Mangahao dam. Other releases were: 20,000 fry and 900 yearlings in the. Oroua river, 13,000 fry in Lake William and Guddop’s Lake, 30,000 brown fry in Honorc’s Crock (near Palmerston North), 30,000 brown fry in the Ohau river, 15,000 in the Waikawa, 15,000 in the Waitahu, and 40,000 in the tributaries of the Otaki. Despite a cold and windy opening day, several good catches wero recorded. The members of tho Palmerston North Anglers’ Club weighed in about 1501bs. of fish. T?ie Wellington Society is to be asked to forward 250 research envelopes to assist in tho collection of fish scales for the pui-poses of general co-opera-tion. . The New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies’ Association forwarded a circular letter to societies embodying suggestions for closer co-operation between the various bodies. Tho chairman reported that the Wellington Society had agreed to issue free licences to its Tangers and also to two honorary rangers. Tho opinion of the meeting generally was that honorary rangers were not entitled to free licences, or alternatively that uniformity should be adhered to, and that all the honorary rangers hud equal rights in the matter.

It was decided to recommend to the society that if one honorary ranger received a licence they should all be granted the same privilege. There was a brief discussion on the quality of the fry received from the hatcheries. It was stated that some of those received by tho .Eeilding branch had been unsatisfactory, but all those which camo to tho Manawatu were beyond reproach. Tho chairman commented that the fish taken in this district wero of excellent type, aud the ova forwarded for hatching were fully up to standard. Jt was hard to explain why the fry received by Feilding should not have been satisfactory. Tho matter was ono that would eventually have to be canvassed by the Fish Research Committee, to ensure the utilisation of the best ova obtainable in the Dominion.

Members pointed out that in one or two streams silt from tho Tiritea stream was blackening the waters, making good fishing impossible. Mr Procter suggested that an eel drive should be organised for the Kahutarawa stream. Tho fish thero were particularly plentiful this year and of a good size generally, but the eels were also plentiful, and should bo controlled as soon as possible . Mr Procter said one man had taken 257 fish from the stream last season. Air Procter said that a drive, in addition to serving a useful purpose, would furnish a good night’s sport. The chairman commented that tho idea was an excellent one, and Air Procter was asked to arrange a party at an early date. Alembers discussed Tumoured instances of poaching in various streams, but the opinion was expressed that most of these eases had been exaggerated, and offence was less serious than was affirmed in some quarters. The matter will, however, be kept in view by the branch.