ACCLIMATISATION WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22211, 11 September 1935, Page 16

ACCLIMATISATION WORK

NEW FISII HATCHERY STOCKING AUCKLAND WATERS EXCELLENT PROGRESS MADE The excellent progress being made with the construction of tho society's fish hatchery on the Little Waipa River was reported at the meeting of the council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society last evening. Dr. T. W. J. Johnson presided in the absence of Mr. F. E. McKenzie. The work is being done by the voluntary#labour of members of the society from the Hamilton, Cambridge, Putaruru and Huntly districts, -who are spending their weekends on the site. When completed there will bo 14 ponds capable of holding a total of 250,000 young fish. During the coming season 1,000,000 trout in various stages of development will be liberated, of which 235,000 have been distributed already. The hatchery equipment will be ready to accommodate tho new season's ova, and tho opinion was expressed that when the, full benefit of the work was felt tho fishing in tho society's waters would be second to none in New Zealand. A marked increase during the past year in the revenue from shooting licences was reported. A total of £2275 was received from that source, an increase of £307 over the previous year. Since April 1 payments were made for 3301 stoats and weasels and 11,854 hawks' feet, accounting for £B2 and £296 respectively. The numbers in both cases were lower than those in the same period of the previous year by between 500 and 600. In view of the excellent condition of the last- consignment of pheasants received from the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, it was decided to pur' chase a further batch of 300 cock pheasants from that society for liberation in July, 1936. After discussing at some length the general policy in liberation, it was left to the sub-societies to voice their opinion before the November council meeting. With reference to a statement made recently at a meeting of the Wellington Angling Club that a charge was being made for fishing access to certain parts of the Waikato River, it was stated that no cases of this were on record in the society's area, the places concerned being in the Taupo district.