AUCKLAND ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10697, 10 March 1898, Page 3

AUCKLAND ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society took place yesterday afternoon. Mr. James Burtt (president) occupied the chair.

The secretary (Mr. Cheeseman) read tho report.

AXXUAL RETORT. In compliance .with the rules, the Council have to submit their thirtieth annual report on the general condition of the Society, and its progress during the past year. Finance.—The financial position of tho Society has somewhat improved since tho last annual meeting. Tho total revenue, excluding tho balance in hand at the commencement of the year, has been £445 14s 4d. Last year the amount was £363 19s fxl, being the smallest ever recorded in tho history of tho Society. Although-the increase of £81 14s lOd is gratifying, it must bo borne in mind that tho income for the present year is still much below that received a few years ago, and that the Utmost economy will require to ho exercised in conducting tho operations of the Society, Tho game licenso fees have contributed £303, showing an increase of £8 on the previous year. At present there seems to bo no prospect of this source of income yielding amounts comparable with those derived from it a few years ago. The amount derived from fishing licenses (including netting licenses and poundago foes) has been £57 17s Id. This shows a satisfactory increase, which will doubtless be maintained as our streams becomo gradually stocked with trout. For sale of fish and ova tlio Council have received £73 10s, a very gratifying testimony to tho usefulness of 'he hatchery. Tho total expenditure lias been £360 0s Id as against £405 6s 5d in tho previous year. The balance to the credit of the Society at tho present time is £291 Os sd. Hatchery.— year's operations at the hatchery have been fairly successful. The brood rainbow trout have spawned well, yielding more than 300,000 ova, or quite double the number obtained in the previous season. About 70,000 ova wore sold to other societies, and the balance was placed in tho hatching house. The number proved to be rather, too largo for tho appliances in tho house, causing an unnecessarily high mortality during hatching and in the after development of the young fish ; but even with this loss the total number of fry reared has been large. The following is a list of the distributions made:—

1. Lakes and streams in Rotonia county; 9000.

2. Streams in the Thames and Upper Waikato: Pokaiwlienua, 2500; Little Waipa, 500 ; streams near Cambridge, 1000; Upper and Lower Waihou, 7000; Waimakiriri, 5000; Oraka, 6200; Raparapa, 5000 ; Waiomio, 4000 ; streams near Morrinsville, 650; streams near Matamata, 500; Upper Ohinemuri, 2000. 3. Streams in the Waipa Valley; Waipa and tributaries, near Otorohanga, 5000; streams near To Kuiti, 4000; Stony Crook, 1500; streams near Pirongia, 500; Puniu and tributaries, 3500.

4. Raglan district; Waitetuna and Okete streams, 3000; Waingaro, 1000; Firewood Creek, 4-00.

5. Between Waikato and Auckland: Alatahura stream, 1000; Maungatawhiri, 2500; l'aerala, 1000; Southern Wa'iroa. 500.

6. Northern districts; Whangarei, 3000; Bay of Islands, 2000. Total, 72,250.

In nearly all cases the fry were placed in the streams with a very small percentage of loss. A considerable number still remains in the ponds, and will be liberated as soon as tho weather is sufficiently cool. Several improvements have been made at tho hatchery during the year. In the batching house the curator has substituted largo combined hatching and rearing boxes on tho Williamson principle for the small original hatching boxes. This will allow a much larger number of ova to bo treated, and tho newlyhatched fry can he kept in better health. Two largo ponds, each 100 yards long and eight feet wide, havo been constructed. They are supplied with water direct from tho Waimakiriri Bivor, the sluices being so arranged that the amount of water admitted is under perfect control. Two fry points capable of accommodating 20,000 fry each havo also been constructed. With these additions it is expected that tho hatchery will bo capable of dealing with an output of 500,000 eggs per annum. Fairly successful trout fishing lias been obtained during tho present season in most of the streams of tho Upper Thames Valley. The Council are glad to report that trout are fast becoming plentiful in the Upper Waipa and its tributaries, and they anticipate that anglers will obtain good sport in most districts during the next year. The rapid increase of brown trout in lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti, the largo size they attain, and the fact that they cannot be caught in the laics by anglers, have caused many representations to bo mado in favour of permitting the netting and sale of lako trout. After consultations with the Rotorua Town Hoard, which body has kindly consented to act as a local committee, netting regulations were framed, and after much delay were assented to by the Government and gazetted. The regulations provide lor the issuing of licenses to net lake trout on payment of a certain fee. mid permit such trout to be sold within the the boundaries of the county of Rotorua without anv further hindrance. All trout exported from Rotorua, turnover, is subject to a poundago fee of one penny per lb, such fees to be applied to the further stocking with fish of tho lakes and rivers of (ho county. And tho trout so exported can only bo sold by dealers who havo taken out licenses to sell. Since the regulations were gazetted several licenses to net have been taken out. Considerable quantities of trout have been caught and either sold in Rotorua or exported for salo in Auckland.

Conference of Societies.—A conference of Acclimatisation Societies has been held at "Wellington during the year, and was attended by delegates from all the chief societies in the colony. The common work of the societies was discussed in a friendly spirit, and many valuable suggestions were made. Among other matters, the- necessity for the amendment and codification of the gamo laws, both with respect to birds and fish, was fully discussed, and proposals were submitted to the Government. As a result, the Government have drafted new acts to supersede the present Animals' Protection Act and Fisheries' Conservation Act, and have also prepared a Gun License Act. All threo will bo introduced into Parliament during its next session, when it is hoped that they will pass without serious opposition. Birds.The balance of the Virginian quail presented by Mr. Cooke Daniels has been whined in the hands of Messrs. Whitney and Walker for distribution in their respective districts. Tlio Council still hoar favourable reports respecting the Indian chikor liberated near the Kaipara Heads, and it is hoped that it is increasing in numbers and will become safelv established.

With the view of checking poaching in the country districts a travelling ranger was employed during the past gamo season. Paid rangers wore also employed at the Thames and Rotorua. The Council regret to say that none of the rangers obtained convictions. It is very much to he regretted that landowners, who are tlio poonlo most interested in the suppression of poaching, display such indifference to it; for, as pointed out in previous reports, litllo can he done without their co-operation. In conclusion, the Council have to thank the members and many others for the aid and encouragement Which they have given to the objects of the Society, a.nd which they hope will bo again rendered during the coming year.

The Chairman moved, and Mr. Bull seconded, the adoption of the report, which motion was carried.

Election of Officers: The following were the officers elected for the ensuing year:— President, Mr. James Burtt; vice-president, Mr. A. Bull; committee, Rev. W. Beattv, ])rs. Lewis and Owen, Messrs. A. Buckland, A. W. Chntfield, H. C. Choyce, Douglas, T. R. Hill, C. E. S. Gillies, T. T. Minefield, F. D. Rich, James Russell, H. Walker, A. A. White, J. Wigmore, A. C. Whitney, R, O. Younghusband, E. J. Harvey, R. J. Parry, J. Hankin, H. B. Dexter, Watkis, Seymour Thome George, and Thus. Morriii; auditor, Mr. Harrop. Game and Fish Committees: The following sub-committees were also appointed:— Game Committee— Masefield, Russell, and Choyce,' president and vice-presi-dent ex officio. Fish Committee—Messrs Seymour Thome George, Gillies, and Younghusband, president and vice-president ex officio.

Notice of motion: Mr. Seymour Thorne George gave notice of motion that at the next general meeting of the society, he would move, " That the rules be altered so as to provide for the reduction of the number of members to seven." This concluded the proceedings. MEETING OK COUNCIL. A meeting of the newly-elected Council was then held, Mr. Burtt (president) in the chair.

Tauranga: Mr. A. M. Burrowes, lion. secretary of the Tauranga Acclimatisation Society, asked that an account for ova bo cancelled, on account of the society baring stocked Rotorua district with fish, and which district was now removed from their district jurisdiction. The request was acceded to, in this special case, hut the secretary was instructed to. inform the society that the change had not as yet been of any financial benefit to the Auckland Acclimatisation Society,

! Whangarei: 'Mr.- Wilson, lion, secretary ■ of the Whangarei Acclimatisation Society, wrote asking advice of the society on certain matters in relation to tie- sale of game. Referred to the game sub-committee. Rotonia; Letters were read from Mr. W. A. Williams, society's agent at Rotonia, stating 'that the fishing regulations were not working satisfactorily. Referred to the fish sub-committee. Te Kuiti and Otorohanga: A letter was received from Mr. C. E. Bennett, stating that trout were now very plentiful in the streams near Otorohanga and Te Kuiti, and asking whether the streams were open for fishing. It was decided to reply that the streams were open, and that licenses could bo obtained on application to the secretary. The Game Season: The Colonial Secretary's Department wrote asking for the society's recommendations for the approaching game season. After considerable discussion it was decided, on the motion of Mr. Bull, seconded by Mr. Motrin, "That the dates of opening and closing of season for both native and imported game should be those adopted by the recent Conference of Acclimatisation Societies at Wellington ; thaWs, to open on May 1. and close 011 July 31; that pheasants, Californian and Australian quail be the imported game open to bo shot; and that the license fee be £1."