ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Northern Advocate, 12 April 1911, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

ANNUAL REPORT,

The appendedl report of the Whrngarei Acclimatisation Society's operations during the past year was submitted to the annual meeting on Saturday night and unanimously adopted. Whangarei, 31st March, 1911. To the Chairman and members of tfte Whangarei Acclimatisation Society^ v- Gentlemen, —The operations of the Soctqjty have been confined this last year to raising and distributing trout. Last shooting season did not apply to this district, and the benefits of a close season are now apparent. Pheasants are reported to be plentiful all over the district, and the prospects for the coming season are very favorable. The Council have decided to apply to the Minister to have the restriction on the five-mile radius removed. This ap- . plication has now been made, and no .difficulty is anticipated in having the same granted. The Minister, in reply to the question as to whether persons who take out a license in any other district than this can shoot in this district without taking out a further license in this district, has stated definitely that no person can shoot native or imported game in this district without first having taken out his license with our Society. Notification of .this being made in the various newss "irapers. The Society is indebted to Colonel Whitney for the donation of a "■ sitting of mallard duck eggs. The sitting was very successful, all eggs being hatched and I understand the ducks have all been reared. The curator was very successful indeed with Liis hatchings, and had quite a number of young ducks distributed over the district It is hoped a real effort will toe made by all sportsmen to put down illicit shooting. The constables in the district have been notified to keep a good watch. Jt is, however, extremely difficult to cope with this offence unless sportsmen knowing of offenders will come forward and give evidence. The Governor will appoint any person interested in putting down unsportsmanlike practices as honorary ranger, ■srhich will empower the holder to prosecute any offenders he may detect. ,It is hoped that some settlers in the back districts will apply for an appointment, when the secretary will see to it being granted. The funds of the Society are in a satisfactory condition." Notwithstanding there was no revenue from shooting licenses last year, the Society has actual cash in the bank amounting to £233 12s Id, and assets to the value of at least £60. It is expected that there will be a large revenue from shooting licenses this coming season. As regards the fishing season, the catches do not seem to be very numerous, and disappointment has been expressed at. the poor fishing. Licenses were not largely availed of, 11 1 whole-season, 4 half-season and 8 ladies' and boys' licenses being issued up .* to. 31/3/11. The Rev. Pattullo and .£•< Messrs Hudson and Cafler retire from the Council by rotation, and are eligible for re-election. During the year Mr Steadinan resigned the secretaryship and Mr Rishworth was appointed. The Council has forwarded a raoor..mendation to the Minister urging that no licenses to sell native or imported •game be issued this season. The curator's report is herewith. V HUGH C. RISHWORTK .A» Secretary. CURATOR'S REPORT. Whau Valley Hatchery, April 7th, 1911. To the Secretary of the Whangarei Society,— * Dear Sir, —I have to report as follows:— OVA. I started this year's work by hatching out about 35,000 trout ova. We failed to get the full amount from the Auckland Society, and having decided j not to take ova from Rotorua again, we had to content ourselves with the smaller quantity. We were very successful in the hatching, and the fish N distributed as follows:—Part were sent to the head waters of the Kaitara and the Moengawahine river, Purua; another lot to the Mangahaliaru, in the Kauri district; another lot, to the Whakapara and Waiotu rivers; also the river north-east of Mr Cork's . property; and 5000 were supplied to the Kawakawa Society. There are at present about 2000 fish in the ponds, ready for distribution.

DUCKS. With regard to the English wild ducks from those hatched from old stocks and imported ones, we reared 40 very fine birds, and the bulk of these ,have been sent to the Wairua river in the Ruatangata district. Some were al.so sent to the Kaitara and Otaika, and we have some left for next season's breeding. SHAGS. I have to report that I have received from various parts of the district 289 heads of hawks and 54 heads of shags. FISH. Prom reports received . from residents near the Whakapara, Waiotu, and Mairua rivers, some very large trout have been seen, and there is no doubt that the fish are doing well in these rivers. , H. R. HOLMAN, Curator. The curator's report was also adopted nem con.