ACCLIMATISATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 22 May 1928, Page 6

ACCLIMATISATION

NELSON SOCIETY ; . An attendance of about twenty members was present at the annua! meeting of the Nelson Acclimatisation Society bold in the Anglers' Club lioom last evening. Colonel J. E. Hume was elected chairman. The annual report and balance sheet were read and received, and after discussion on all main points, were adopted. The Society's receipts and expenditure for the year just past were as follow:—Receipts £513 lis 11.1. Balance from last year £316 Os s<l. Expenditure £307 17s *2d. Balance remaining for the year £526 15s 4d. The Society's assets are thus £llO6 16s 2d. General satisfaction was expressed at the favourable stale of the finances. The annual report stated: — Quail: —The past season has been very satisfactory. The birds were in good condition and in some parts of the district fairly plentiful; hut they seem to have left" the open country for the scrub and cover, making it far more difficult, to get I hem. Some license holders advocated a close season with the object of allowing them to take to the open again, and your Council called a. meeting of those interested so tbat the question could be thoroughly discussed. A good number of sportsmen attended and after going into the question came to the conclusion that a close season would not bring about the desired result, and unanimously recommended the opening of the season as usual. Judging by the reports from the country this next season promises to be a record one as Ihe dry weather during

the breeding season has had a marked increase in the birds. Trout:—The fishing season in. consequence of the absence of floods throughout the district lias been particularlygood. Anglers generally, have had good sport and good bags, and the fish in very fair condition. .Most of our rivers have yielded fair sport. Your Council, following the recommendation from the annual meeting, procured from the Otago Society .250.000 Brown Trout Ova and 75,000 Rainbow Ova. which were hatched out successfully and together with 120,000 from Lake liotoiti hatchery were liberated in the rivers as follows: Maitai 70.000; Motueka 50,000: and 30,000 in each of these rivers, viz., Kiwaka, Takaka, Happy Valley, Whaiigarnoa, Aniseed, Wairoa, Lea and Al.l„„:i.A f,lV>r\ n ,.„A ~,-., «-nvo ntrini.

Motupiko. 6000 eyed ova were, planted • in tlio Cobb river, Mount. Arthur Tableland; about 15,000 were placed in the ponds, but owing to the very dry weather towards the end of the year the water failed, and some fish perished. The remainder were liberated in the Maitai. As the rivers were very low towards the close of the season, reports wenreceived that numbers of trout were be ing taken out by illegal means, so your Council engaged a ranger to patrol the main rivers which was done, and although there has not been a conviction his presence on the rivers had the desired effect in checking the poaching. The Rainbow fry were liberated in, the D'TJrville and Sabine livers as usual, but owing to the fact that no Rainbow trout has been seen in those localities, your Council considers the time lias arrived to hold off for a year or so, or until a thorough investigation has been made to see if the trout has taken to those rivers. For after five years the fish should be showing .some" results from an angler's point of view. Pheasants:—As this is the fifth year of the work in endeavouring to re-estab-lish this game bird in this district, the results are far from satisfactory. Reports, from the districts in which numbers have been liberated, stale that although some young broods have been seen, the birds decrease rather than increase, showing that the natural enemies, the Hawks and Weasels, are taking a heavy toll of the young. Opossums:—The Opossum season has been a, good one. The number of skins taken in this district was 12,455 and the Society's share of the revenue, .1:323 Is sd. As trapping has been carried on yearly for four or five years, reports we're received that the animal was decreasing*.fast, and with a view of recti: tying this your Council recommended the corning season to he a close one, but the. Government has decided to have it. open throughout the Dominion this year. It lias been recommended to have a shorter season from Ist June to 14th July. Hawks, Shags and Weasels, Etc. : The work of destroying these pests goes on steadily, practically every part of the district sending in its quota. General:—Poaching lias been carried on in various parts, mostly the taking of trout during the dry weather whth the rivers were low. The Council of tlu Society engaged a ranger to patrol tin rivers and there is no doubt that hi; work put a check to thai illegal prac lice. .The thanks of the Society are. due tr Messrs Auty llarley, Condell, Merrick and Morley, all of whom contribute gratuitously to the work in connectior with the hatchery at Lake Hotoiti thereby insuring its success. RECOMMENDATIONS TO INCOMING COUNCIL

-Arising from the report, recommendations were submitted as follow :—Dr. S. A. Gibbs moved and Mr Sliultlewortii seconded that (he eonimittee be congratulated on its decision to adhere 1o the Ist May being the opening day instead of Ist June as recommended by some license holders for the shooting of quail. Trout: —Mr Williams moved and Mr Vehner seconded that/ tin- incoming committee, be recommended to go into the question of importing may-fly as a food for stocking rivers. Eels:— The eel menace was discussed. Such schemes as eel competitions were regarded ns inadequate, and it, was resolved that the committee should inquire into the methods employed, and the best, time of the year for trapping eels on a. large scale by other Societies. Pheasants:—lt - was' resolved that the committee, be, asked to discuss the matter of importing other game birds for release in this district. Tin- Hiiu-

garian partridge, Indian Checker and red-legged partridge were suggested as suitable for the purpose. Opossums:—Or. fiibbs described as an instance of this animal's depredations, flestruction of native foliage above the reservoir. It was resolved to oppose a close season for opossum trapping. Even the shortening of the open season in order to preserve revenue is strongly opposed. ELECTION OF OFFICERS i The following were elected lo the Council after a ballot in place of those retiring: Messrs Shultlcworlh, C. !•• Ilnrman, and Cussens. _ Those remaining are:—-Col. J. Iv Hume. Messrs W. T. Hargreaves, k. Merrick. L. W. Taylor. A. W. Gardner. .Lis. Williams. Secretary and treasurer: W. A. Allelic ws. Curator: E. Sherwood. Auditor: 1!. Gilbert.