FISHING AND SHOOTING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5597, 25 May 1905, Page 7

FISHING AND SHOOTING

TfTB ACCLIMATIS ATION SOCIETY'S REPORT. \N INTERESTING DOCUMENT. THE WORK OF THE YEAR. There is a fund of information for Sporting men ami others'ln tho tircn‘iiotli annual report of tho Wellington Acclimatisation Society, which is now ■available for circulation. 11 After two docadcn tho society has each year found itself in a stranger position than previously stronger numerically and financially, and better ftblo to carry on the good work of acclimatisation energetically and successfully.” With this encouraging introduction, tho report discusses tho work of the year. FISH CULTURE. TWELVE MONTHS’ RESULTS. Netting for spawning fish commenced in tho Waipoua on May 4th, and in tho Tupurupuru on May 15th. Tho netting finished in tho Waipoua on July 22nd, and in the Tupurupuru on July 29th. Tho number of fish taken 'in tho Waipoua was 1231, yielding 583,000 eggs. In tho Tupurupuru tho fish numbered 308, giving 142,000 oggs. Tho first brown trout oggs were taken urn Juno 10th, and tho last on July SOth. Tho rainbow trout commenced spawning on July Ist, and stopped on August 10th, and gave 335,000 eggs.

Rainbow trout wovo very disappointing this year; a largo number of them becamo affected with “ gill disease,” and had to be destroyed. Every fish ■was carefully examined, and any showing signs of disease wore killed. Fifty thousand rainbow eggs were obtained from Auckland last spawning season, und 406,000 sea-run brown trout eggs from the Opihi and Temuka streams. These eggs hatched out well, and a good percentage were distributed. Tho ■total numbers of eggs put down to batch were—brown trout 1,131,000, and (rainbow 375,000, making a grand total of 1,506,000 eggs. HATCHING AND DISTRIBUTING.

Tho hatching season was fairly successful ; from 1,506,000 eggs put down ■to hatch, 262,000 eyed ova, and 678,000 fry were sent away from the hatchery, and 10,000 rainbow fry were kept for yearlings. The best of the Fontinalis were turned out before last spawning •season, as they were useless. The diseased ones were killed. Everything will ho ready in time for the coming ispawning season at the now hatching uhed, which is nearly completed. The collection of ova from river fish commenced early, and a successful season is anticipated.

Prom the tables attached to the report it is shown that 215,000 sea-run brown trout fry, 208,000 brown trout fry, 55,000 rainbow fry, 7970 yearling rainbows, and 5123 brown fry, valued at £B5l ss, were liberated in the waters of the society during tho past season. The value of tho fry and ova sold is sot down at £487. Tho figures are:— 52.500 rainbow ova, 210,000 brown ova, 123.500 rainbow fry, 76,000 broirii fry. The stock of fish at the ponds conliats of 300 rainbow (three-year-old), 500 rainbow (two years), 855 rainbow (one year), and 10,000 fry, valued at £142 12b. FISHING SEASON. The success obtained dnring the past reason varied very much in different parts of tho district. In some places the floods during the early part of the season, and the drought and consequent weed during the summer, militated against good sport. In other parts more success' was obtained, and judging, from tho number of licenses taken out, the gentle art has provided pleasure and healthy exercise for very many. DISEASED RAINBOW TROUT. Owing to tho growing prevalence of gill disease amongst the stock rainbows at the hatchery, caused, no doubt, in a very great measure, ty the artificial conditions under which they necessarily have to ho kept, the committee decided to discontinue holding rainbows in captivity for breeding purposes. The stock was, therefore, carefully examined, and every fish showing the least sign of disease destroyed. A large number of the healthy ones wore liberated, and the remainder are retained to be dealt with by the new council. The supply of .rainbow ova for the coming season will be obtained from tho Government eying station at Rotorua, and distributed from Masterton as fry and yearlings. An attempt is being made to stock rivers with rainbows by the liberation of yearlings, hut it is difficult to say at present whether it will be successful or not. Rainbows have been taken during the past season in the Makuri, Mangatainoka, and Makakahi, Hutt, Akatarawa, Wainni-o-mata, Waikanae, and Ohan. The Masterton committee, on the other hand, report that none of those liberated in their streams have been seen again. A large number were liberated in the Hutt river, partly in the hope that they might find their way into the harbour, and return to the river as sea-run fish. It is well known that there are some splendid brown trout in Wellington harbour and around the coast, and the possibility of rainbows thriving there also and returning to the rivers, is well worth striving for. RED DEER. The sport in South Wairarapa has been good, and some excellent heads have been obtained, especially on Te Awaiti and other private lands. Comment is made on tho fact that the greater portion of the Government land (some 30,000 acres) has been proclaimed a reserve. This, it is stated, makes it difficult to obtain good heads on other than private lands, and leads to trespass on the reserve. It is suggested that the most satisfactory way hut of the difficulty would be to open some 10,000 acres of the reserve to sportsmen, and to most strictly preserve the remaining 20,000 as an absolute sanctuary. - The new herds at Wainui-o-mata, Paraparaumu, and Palmerston North are increasing well. While tho deer liberated in tho Tararuas are reported ■to be thriving, it is stated that it would bo advisable to send more deer there as soon as possible. Tho annual attempt to capture red deer calves was not so successful as usual. Six were caught; throe died. THE GAME FARM. The operations carried on at the game farm under tho supervision of Mr Hector Ross have boon most successful. Starting with a somewhat indifferent selection of breeding birds, gnd handicapped by a wet, cold spring,

Mr Ross succeeded in rearing 220 strong young pheasants, and over twenty mallard ducks. Of tho pheasants, 117 have been liberated in various places throughout tie district, localities being selected in each instance where tho owner or occupier of tho property undertakes to see to tho protection of tho birds for a year or two. Somo fifty birds are held for breeding stock, and tho balance will be liberated throughout the district when tho shooting season is closed. The caretaker estimates that with tho addition of twenty pens to tho present accommodation, tho output of birds could bo doubled. Several' now pheasant pens have boon erected, and the caictaker is at present engaged in milking pens and water tanks for tho goeso and ducks roc-on Ily presented by the uoveminent to tiio society. Young mallards were successfully reared, both at tho game farm and at Maslorton, (hiring th© past season, and have boon distributed in different parts of tho district. Tho Korean ducks, presented by Sir I' • Sargood, pi oved most prolific layers, so much so that after twenty young ones had been reared, tho balance of tho eggs were used as food for tho young pheasants at the game farm. Tho young Koreans have been distributee!. On the whole, the outlook at Abo game farm is most encouraging. Tho red deer continue to thrive and incroaso in tho locality. Among tho stags, a 16-pointor was noticed by tho caretaker during tho past month. FINANCIAL.

During tho past year tho revenue from all sources has been well maintained. The total receipts (including a credit balance of £1(13 14s 7d carried forward from tho previous year) havo been £2025 2s sd, and tho expenditure £1721 Is, leaving a credit balance of £304 Is sd. Against this there is an outstanding • liability of £2OO. incurred in connection with the now hatchery now being completed at the society’s ponds at Masterton. The most notable increase in revenue occurs in fishing-licenses, the total amount received under this heading being £940 17s lid, which constitutes a record for tho .district. Sales of trout-fry, etc., amounted to £427 3s 3d, an increase of £2l 3s over last year. SUB-COMMITTEES.

Extracts from the reports of district sub-committees are given a largo space in tho report. Palmerston reports a fairly prosperous year. Brown troutfry to tho number of 82,000, and rainbow 12,000, have been liberated in the local streams. Of shags, a fair number was destroyed, the feet of ninety being paid for. Pahiatua had a successful and busy year. The fishing was good. Pheasants are getting scarcer each year, but quail and ground game are on the increase. Brief reports from Masterton and Eketahuna are also printed. Tho report is a voluminous document, consisting of about forty pages of printed matter, the compilation of which entailed a great deal of labour on the secretary (Mr A. F. Lowe), the assistant-secretary (Mr N, Vou Suirmer), and other officers of the society.