ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15954, 23 December 1913, Page 8

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Tho regular meeting: of the Council of the Otago Acclimatisation Soriety, held last evening, was attended by Messrs G. \V. M'lrftosh (chairman), Cliamberlain, Cowic, Baker, Brinsley, Cousins, Rutherford, Pattison, Ogilvie, Lawson, M'Carthy, Wilson, D. Russell (secretary), and F. Deans (manager).

The principal portions of Mr Deans report read as follows:—The distribution of fry is being carried on very slowly. The wet and stormy weather lately has been very much against such work, most of the rivers being in flood. Up to the present 264,000 fry have been turned out from tho Opolho hatchery.. Of tho rainbow fry from Lake Taapo, 16,000 have been placed in the Waikouaiti River, and a similar number are still at the hatchery, and I await instructions respecting these. So far as my experience goes this has been a r. ost unsuitable seasonfor rearing young ducks and pheasants. I regret to say I have not yet reared a single pheasant, and I have also been most unfortunate with the ducks, I have had a largo number of ducks' and pheasants' eggs sent down from the Clinton hatchery, but it is a difficult matter to get hen 6to sit. Two settings of diamond pheasants'- eggs have been disposed of, and also two of English ones, and a pair of diamond pheasants.—Received.

The folio-wing are the chief clauses in Mr Steven's report:—l ]ii?ve to. report that the distribution of yearling fish hits practically finished for this season. The number of these fish has turned out considerably below what I estimated at the beginning of tho 6eason; more especially in the brown trout, which were raised in tho large pond, and which only yielded 16,000 when I expected at least 25,000. In this pond I found a considerable number ot very large lkh; somo up to 10 inches. All the ponds produced greater or less numbers of yearlings of an abnormal oize,' and there can only be one conclusion: That a vert large number of the smaller fish were eaten up by tho larger ones. The only reason 1 can offer for this is that throughout the past year the water in tho ponds was often for weeks on end so thick that the fish could not possibly see tho artificial food thrown in to them; while tho small fish would for the same cause bo unable to see the approach of their enemies and get under cover. I think I havo in several previous reports pointed out tho necessity of having a better arrangement for classification of those fish somewhere about the months of May or June. Owing to the shortage in the numbers of yearlings I havo not been ablo to retain for two year olds as many jib I had intended to. Nearly 6000 have been retained for two year olds. - I hnve also on hand a number of tho large sized yearlings, and some two and thrco years olds drafted from stock fish. I shall await the council's instructions as to where these are to be liberated. I may add that thero is-still on hand a large number of fry to be liberated, and this work is uoing on almost daily. I received instructions to ascertain the cost of removing anglers' hut at Arthurton Falls to Clinton ,and this will bo attended to as soon as an opportunity is available. Several parties have applied to. me for-eel pota, and have offered to work the 6amo if supplied with ' them. There are about two acres of land here which has been cropped with turnips for the past two seasons that ought to bo sown down in grass. If 0110 or two tons of lime were put on this land it would ensure a good solo of. grass for a number of years. A brief report on game followed.—Mr Steven's report was received, and it was resolved that the portions referring to fish be referred to the Angling Committee to act, that tho two-acre paddock bo limed and sown in grass, and that eel pots be supplied as recommended, subject to inquiry, The Angling Committee's report contained an intimation that it had been resolved that 16,000 rainbow fry at Opoho bo liberated m the Waikouaiti River, and that 200 special fry and 18,000 fry at Clinton, be distributed between tho Southern Reservoir and the Tomahawk Lagoon - Adopted.

It having been intimated that there was no Game Committee's report for presentation owing to Ac want of a quorum at the meeting, Messrs Baker and Ogilvie were added to the committee. The Finance Committee's report, which was very brief, was read by Mr Chamberlam, and adopted.. The report from the sub-committee appointed in re standing orders for the conduct of the council's business was adopted it being agreed that, should any point arise not dealt with 'by the standing orders adopted, the council would be guided by the standing orders of tho City Council. Mr Peter Aitken wrote suggesting that an area close to Waipiata be made a" sanctuary for game.—lnquiries to be made as to suitability of tho area for a sanctuary. The Waikaia Angling and Gamo Society wrote asking that certain game might be liberated in its district—Referred to the Game Committee.

Tho Tapanui Anglers and' Deer-stalkere' Association wrote asking that some effective means of destroying eels and shags be taken. -Referred to the Game and Angling u>mmittees; two eel-pots to be supplied.—lt was further resolved that the association be requested to report upon tho red deer herd in the Upper Pomahaka district.

Mr W. Sutherland, Glen Park, wrote that from one setting of an eel-pot he had taken 21 eels, the largest/111b weight—A request for another eel-pot was complied with. A letter from Mr A. G. Fenwick conveying his resignation as a 'member of the council caused some little exhibition of feeling. Mr Fenwick wrote that, in view of the unseemly remarks made by the president and one of the vice-presidents regarding himself at a meeting of the council, he felt be could not any longer, with respect for himself, remain a member, and he therefore tendered his resignation. Ho know ho had made many friends on the council, and out of kindness to himself they might wish him to reconsider his decision, but he had definitely made up his mind—Mr Ogilvie moved that Mr .Fenwick's resignation be not accepted, and that every effort bo made to get him to reconsider his decision. He (Mr Ogilvie) thought Mr Fenwick had been charged by tho presidont with party feeling, and that charge had been echoed by Me Brinsley. As far as Mr Fenwick had gone with them, he had proved himself conscientious and energetic in what was right, instead of being shifting, pandering, and a shirker. He (the speaker) went on to mention three instanced where Mr Fenwick might, with reason, have made charges of party feeling.—Mr Patterson seconded the motion.—Mr Wilson spoke in support of it. —Mr Brinsley expressed his surprise at some of the remarks made. If Mr Fenwick had a party he was the party himself. He (the speaker) did nirt [eel that ho had anything to apologise fyr. He would not have said anything that jjc thought would cause Mr Fenwick to withdraw from the swicty. Mr Fenwick must bear this in mind; that he had entered into public life, though in a simple way, and thx. he was therefore liable to criticism. Became he had not walked into the society and carried evpr-ythip.i; before him he resigned. As Mr Fenwick announced that his decision was unalterable, he (Mr Brinsley) did not think the motion should be received.—The Chairman said that any remark ho had made he hud full justification for. Neither Mr Ogilvie nor Mr Wilson knew everything that had happened. What Mr Fenwick had been doing he (Mr M'lntosh) did not think was in the interests of the society. Mr Fenwick had charged him with recording the proceedings in an improper way.—(Members: "No, no; ambiguous!") The Chairman, proceeding, said he was satisfied Mr Fenwick would not reconsider his decision, and he thought the language used 'in the letter was most, unreasonable and uncalled-for. If Mr .Fenwick had said he was going, to England, and would be absent for several months, and that that was the reason for his resigning, he would have been right.—Mr Ogilvie having replied .and made certain statements with regard tjyone member which prompted the chairman to call him to order, the motion was put and declared carried, sixhands being held up in ite favour.