ACCLIMATISATION WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19714, 13 August 1927, Page 14

ACCLIMATISATION WORK

TROUT IN WAIKATO RIVER. REASONS FOR SCARCITY. STOCKING LAKE ROTONGARO. The Council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society met at Huntly last evening, Mr. C. A. Whitney, presiding over a large attendance. It was reported that the fishing licences issued for the year 1926-27 total 696. and show a decrease of 260 compared with last year. The known number of game licences issued to date is 2280, and it is expected that another 250 are yet to be returned. Last year the number issued was 2475. Orders have been placed by the society for the forthcoming season for 500.000 trout fry and 200,000 ova. The cost to the society is expected to be £285. A remit from the Te Awamutu Society asking that a. portion of the Punui Stream be closed to all methods of fishing, except fly, was approved and is to be recommended to the Minister of Internal Affairs. The scarcity of trout in the waters of the Waikato River extending from Huntly to Ngaruawahia was the subject of a long discussion. Mr Saulbrey, of Ngaruawahia, said that ten or twelve years ago it was possible to secure almost at any time a dozen fair sized fish, but of late years it had simply been a waste of time fishing the river He attributed this to the- lack of natural food and was of opinion that this was due to the fact that the whitebait in the lower reaches of the river were being caught in wholesale quantities and canned for export. Limiting Whitebait Season. It was finally decided to recommend the Government to limit the whitebait season, and to prohibit canning. Other members expressed the opinion that although the lack of natural food miirht have some bearing upon the scarcitv of trout, the trouble extended iurther, in*that in latter years the river had not been suitably stocked. One delegate suggested that the river should be stocked with vearlings, but the president disagreed with this. " Yearlings," he said " were spoon fed and once they were liberated showed no inclination to seen their natural food. Moreover, the °f liberating yearlings was prohibitive." If fry were properly Liberated iu shallow waters and small streams, they would start feeding on natural food almost at once. Mr. Whitney was convinced that the scarcity of trout in some streams was due primarily to the fact for the past seven years the quality of fry had not been selected carefully enough and not sufficient care had been taken in theii liberation by various societies. However, more care was being taken in the selection this season and it was hoped that much good would result. As an experiment, a number of brown trout were to be liberated at the Arapuni Dam, and the president thought that in time they would come into the lower reaches of the river. A request from the Huntly Society that Lake Rotongaro (Huntly West) should be stocked with trout was favourably considered by the meeting. It was decided to stock this lake during the next season.

Game Shooting Regulations. It was decided that the time had errived when the restrictions should be removed from stoats and weasels, members generally expressing the opinion that they did far more harm than good. It was decided to petition the Government to that end. An interesting discussion ensued regarding alterations to shooting regulations. The president said the trouble occurred during the first four or five days of the season when sportsmen took up five or six stands on a certain lake and finished by using one only. Eventually it was decided to enlist the aid of the Minister of Internal Affairs in having licences issued one month prior to the shooting season and having provision made that before any man could claim a stand he must first procure his licence and erect on the stand a board showing his name, address and licence number It was further decided that one stand, " one man and one gun " would assist largely in bringing about the necessaiy reform.

The present law relating to decoys is that not more than 25 decoys may be used within an area of 100 yards square, and a remit from the Thames Club suggested a reduction. Finally, it was decided to recommend to the Minister of Internal Affairs to reduce the shooting season for all game from three to two months, the recommendation, if accepted, to take effect from next season.

THE WAIMARINO SOCIETY. FRY ALLOTTED FOR, SEASON. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT. } RAETIHI, Friday. The council of the Waimarino Acclimatisation Society met this week, Mr. T. Shout presiding. It was announced that the society's new hatchery at Karioi had commenced operations, Mr. W. Condor having been appointed curator. The following allotment of fry was made for the season, for the streams and rivers in the Waimarino district:—Wahianoa, 5000; Turakina, 10,000; Piopiotea, 10,000; Mangawhero, 25.000; Oratoha, 20.000; Wangangi, 50.000; Waitaiki, 5000; Kaitieke, 20,000; and Owhango, 5000. It was resolved that pheasants held in captivity by the society be liberated on Mr. Gibson's property. The meeting decided that application be made to the department to close the headwaters of the Turakina River at places advised by Mr. Powell. It was decided to make application to have ths restrictions removed as to the size of brown trout taken from the rivers and streams of the district. The Minister of Interna] Affairs advised that he approved of the amendments to the rules, as suggested by the society.