THE OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6999, 23 April 1884, Page 5

THE OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PBESB ASSOCIATION'.] ■ - - -DtrNKDis, Tuesday. The annual meeting of theOtago.Acclimati; sation Society was to have been held to-day, - bus was aajourned. ; Tne annual report to be presented' contains the following paragraph : —"The work of the society has been chiefly the protection of imported game, 'native game; and imported fish,' also the propagation and distribution of the'-latter.- In carrying out its work your council has met with much opposition from parties Ignorant. of the naturalhistory of animals, birds; arid fish - from poachers audlawless person's;' but, most importahtof alii from'a certain'section.of 'the. legislature during the discussion of ' the' Fisheries Bill in the session of 1883. This, Bill, altKoughnot'presented'iri ttie'best*form, to Parliament; was still a'yery fair and useful- ' measure as brought down by '- the 'Go vern-' ment; and'recognised .thti necessity of allowihg 'acclirnatisation.socieiiies to carry on their 'great public work- of stocking'rivers with fisTi nntramelled as heretofore. Tho alterations attempted in this'Bill were suoh as had they r become law, would have reunited in utter confusion among societies am. well' as the' loss'of all revenue fro ; tn trout licenses. Theinjuatice of thisis- keenly felt by your. : Council, seeing that the expenses of trout- | rearing in- Otago have been borne entirely by r the society's fands,. and not by tha Colonial .Treasury; Fortunately this Bill was Bhelted. I Ab -a ! society' we "do not want; any money from Parliament;to assist us, 1 but only to be ipermittedto be self-supporting as hitherto. 'Should this be denie.d us, then' our iish distribution' in trout will.cease, without' which, -we have many proofs already that the stocks 'of these in our rivers will infalliably disappear, 'and all- the good work of • many .years be lost to the country." The 'report deals at" length with the results 'of acclimatisation of hares, -birds,' fish,' etc., and shows that with the exception of hares, Jotter game, such as partridges and pheasants, are'becoming - scarce yearly. It also [takes the part of the small birds against the ■outcry raiaed'about them by farmers. The following'paragraph also appears : —" During .the first year a beginning has been made in gathering together facts regarding our marine' fisheries, with the ultimate object ■of improving these fisheries on the coast. The' assistance of-intelligent fishermen at Port Chalmers, Catlino, ' Rivercon, and on $he West Coast of Otago, have' been secured, and returns have begun to come io. The recorded observations, although not the work of -naturalists,-will be of jvery great value as contributions from. u>en jvery • familiar with fish, and will form exoellent groundwork for more preoise examination." ' ■