WELLINGTON ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10035, 28 April 1894, Page 2

WELLINGTON ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

(Per United Pkess Association.)

Wellington, April 27.

The council of. the Wellington Acclimatisation Society has entered into correspondence with a gentleman in England with a view to introducing the common English bat into the colony, our wild native bat having almost died out. It is thought that they might be artificially hibernated in boxes full of straw, with air holes, placed in the cool chamber, and thus be brought out to tho colony. A similar experiment has also been suggested to an English naturalist, with a view of ascertaining whether it is possible to artificially hibernate and import any of the European swallow species. During last season 800,480 fry and eyed ova were distributed by the society from the Mastertoa fish hatcheries. In their annual report, the council point out that it is now nine years since the society undertook to stock the waters of the North Island, and tho results of good work are now being felt far and near. It the results were compared with work of a similar kiud carried on in other countries by societies subsidised by the State it would be found that the work had been carried on at a very low cost at Masterton by means of license fees, contributions from other societies, and subscriptions. It had also to bo remembered that stocking the rivers of the colony with migratory lish also involved the stocking of the coast line of the ocean, a very large undertaking, and one which would eventually be of largo commercial value to fisheries.