FISH AND BIRDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21159, 16 April 1932, Page 12

FISH AND BIRDS.

ACCLIMATISATION society.

IMPORTATION OF GAME. WAR ON HAWKS AND VERMIN. The Auckland Acclimatisation Society's work during the past year in connection with supplies of fish and game is re viewed in the annual report of the society, to bo presented at the annual meeting on Tliursclny. The number of fry liberated was 104 000, and 450,000 rainbow ova were planted in suitable streams. In addition, a donation of 100,000 rainbow ova to the Hawke's Bay Society to assist, in restocking their rivers after the disastrous earthquake, was made by (lie counc.l. The council voted £25 for the importation of a supply of fggs of ,he b, " P ' winged olive from England, to stimulate the rising habit in trout in some waters. The lake at Arapnni has been cleared of underwater scrub and obstructions with the aid of unemployed labour, for which the sum of £1.50 was voted by the council. Liberation of Pheasants. An order for 1000 pheasants was placed during the year, but unfortunately before delivery about 200 birds were killed by ground vermin and 200 died through eating flying ants. The number liberated was 812, after more birds had been purchased, and some clubs are holding thenallocations for liberation at the end of the season. An order was placed in India for 400 chukor, this large shipment being an experiment, the Wellington, South Canterbury and Nelson societies joining in with an order for 300 between them. Quail, both Californian and brown, had undoubtedly increased throughout the district, having been seen in areas never before inhabited, and the coveys were larger and more numerous. Fallow deer ucie much fewer in the Kaipara distiict.

The largest number of hawks ever received by the society in any one year, 17,144, accounted for the sum of ~079. The price was increased from sixpence to ninepence, with gratifying results. After years of effort a change of legislation was obtained, -permitting the destruction of stoats and weasels in areas containing 10 acres or more of natural forest. The tails of stoats and weasels sent in to the society amounted to 2451, and £306 had been expended in the form of a reward of 2s 6d a tail. The war on vermin is to be continued until stoats and weasels are wiped out. The request of the council was successful in placing the, spotted shag on the protected list of birds, together with the blue shag and the Chatham Island shag. The voracious black shag, however, the proved enemy of the trout, received attention from various paities organised by the council, and 300 were destroyed in the vicinity of the trout waters. Shooting and Fishing.

Last season the same number of shooting licences were taken out as in the previous year, 2276. Ihis year the council expected a considerable drop in revenue, owing to the fact that a number of shooters might find tho cost of travelling to their shooting grounds they could manage. A two months' season was decided on this year, taking into consideration the good breeding season and the small mortality last season. From the sale of fishing licences £657 had alreadv been collected, and another £23 held bv agents of the society, a total of £6BO. "Last year's sales were £697, and as" further sales might be expected in April the figures are expected to show a very slight decrease. This was due mainly to the improvement in trtkeable fish in the society's streams during the past few years. The issue of day and weekly fishing licences was introduced in the season, and a number of anglers availed selves of the short period licences. Figures up io the present were 52 weekly at 5s and 232 day licences at 2s 6d. The statement of finances shows that the expenditure, £3582, exceeds the revenue, £3284, by £298, owing to the greatly increased amount spent on hawks' feet and the introduction of a bounty for stoat and weasel tails. Tho expenditure of £3C6 on stoat and weasel destruction, although charged against this year's revenue, has actually been provided for in previous years' accounts by savings made and invested for the very purpose. The overdraft of the society of £BS is covered by fixed deposits' for £1250. maturing in April. According to the rules of tho soocicty the following members of the council retire;— Messrs. H. A. Chatfield, W. H. Thomas, F. G. Baskett and C. A. Whitney, but they arc all eligible for re-elec-tion.