ACCLIMATSATION NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4174, 5 July 1875, Page 7

ACCLIMATSATION NOTES.

Hares and pheasants are now plentiful in the Waipori Ranges. Black swans are now to be seen in considerable numbers on the Waihola Lake.

A traveller through the' Taieri Plain last week met with several flocks of yellowhammers. .. . .

Starlings are now very numerous about the Taieri, and their presence is thoroughly appreciated by the farmers. Iv the Deep Stream and Lee Stream trout of a large size are observed, and it is likely that these rivers will be opened for fishing during theconung season. Mr S. T>algleUh b^a presented tlifl Acclimatisation Society %vifcli a dozen brace of

Oiliforutan quail, and the birds have beetfc. lilKratwi on the Peninsula, near,the property of Mr XV. J. M. Larnaoh, who not long ago* turned out a number of quail in the ssains locality.

Mr YV. G irdon Rich, formerly of Wafrunn, Otago, writes from Toubridge to Lanii, ami Water, giving an extract from a letterwritttn by an Otago friend relative to tro»6 'fishing in t!ie Water of Keith and Shag River.

We learn that it is the intention of tfee Acclimatisation Society to recommend, thafe the trout fishing season should open" nraci* earlier this year. The last season consistent of the months of December, January, and February ; this year, fishing will probably begin in September or October. Mr Kenneth Cameron, of Shag Valley,. re~ ports that a white swan has made its appear* ance on one of tbe lagoons in that distiiefc. It is very tame, and is probably one o£ Oia birds which for some years have Been kept by Mr Francis Fulton on his property oft Kakanui.

In replying, through the Field, to tli©.* numerous inquiries that ,haye bten made to him concerning the success of tfie attempt t» acclimatise British xalmonhltie in Australia, aud New Zealand, Mr J. A. Youl g£va» : extracts from several colonial newspapers^ including this journal, oh the subject. The Provincial Government hayeagceeel to sauetion the taking of hares until tlxeendt of September over the Bushy Park Estate* Shag Valley, belonging to Mr F. •D. Rick.. Wo understand, however, that Mr Rickwill take advantage of this privilege only t^ tbe extent of allowing coursing. The hares-. on« the- property are very plentiful, and nodoubt a targe area will be opened in. the district next year over which, hares may t» taken.

The trout in the various streams har« begun to spawn. Mr Beans, the Accliuutr tisation Society's .Manager, proceeds to the Shag Rive? tbis week, to procure a supply of egt;s for the Society. We'hear of two fine lish having been taken from the Water e£L Leith on different days last week. Swell conduct is very reprehensible. During spawning season trout are very easily taken* and are unfit for eating. "Yet there is everj? reason to believe that in one case a fine- fis&t. of 5 Ib. was taken, with the. knowledge et a, well-known resident near the Water of Leittt who knows the Btate of the law, and was. oaten at his dinner table.

The Acclimatisation Society obtained lsafe week frein Auckland 'six'hen and four cock, pheasants, and the whole number has beei* sent to Queenstown for liberation in the Lake District. The birds were taken up by Air;H. Manders, M.P.C., by way of Invercargtll. and Kingston, and a letter, sent by that gentleman while fj% rodte, from InvercargttE conveyed the information that the pheaeante were thriving, and that there • was evecjp probability of thuir reaching their destination in sufeiy. This is the first lot of these; birds which has been sent to tne Lakes by the Society, and, owing to the suitability o£. that district for all kinds of game, there ear* be little doubt that the pheasants will soon, multiply. ... Under the head of " Deer Stalking in New Zealand," the Australian correspondent ok the Field has the following :—" Our friend* down south,, in the cold, damp, Province o£ Otago, N.Z., have.been.singularly successful in acclimatising the great red- deer from Tasmanian fastnesses. A correspondent, writhing to me from Dunedin, the capital oE Otago,. grows quite enthusiastic, if-not eloquent^ over what he is pleased to term ' really goods sport deer stalking amongst our .mountains.* The sport id described as being genuine, antti largely indulged in."- With regard to the> foregoing, -we have only to remark thata* red deer %ere ever introduced into Ofcigo* from Tasmania, and that no animal o£ that sort was ever to our knowledge killed wittiiiv the Province either by.wayot spori acofcheis. wise. .. . .