ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17148, 30 October 1917, Page 6

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

COUNCIL MEETING. A meeting of the council of the Dnnedin Acclimatisation Society was held last evening, when Mr G. W. M'lntosh (president) occupied the chair. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr R. Cockburn (Roxburgh) advised that the- rainbow yearlings forwarded by the society arrived in good condition.—Received. Dγ ' Reakce forwarded a report concerning worm parasites in trout, which also included observation relative to various conditions surrounding the conservation of fish and game. BErOKTS Game Committee's Report.—A letter was received from Mr D. Urqujhart (Hawea Flat) advising 'that Mr Buckley had withdrawn from his undertaking , to do the fulling in the rod doer herd. The committee recommended that <i letter be sent to Mr Urquhart thanking him for his help and regretting that Mr Buckley is unable *o undertake tho culling, and that the question of culling should now stand over until after the stalking season. The committee also recommended that a letter be written to tho Tapanui Society regarding the Upper Pomahaka doer herd, and stating that the society would bo glad if they would block off the country. The commit-, tee suggested 'that the forest be divided into 10 or 12 blocks, and that licenses bo issued to take two heads-from each block at a fpo of £4 per license. Other recommendations were:' That the Angling , Committee be recommended, to take into consideration, in view 6f labour difficulties, whether it would not be advisable to cut out a largo portion of the hedges at the Clinton hatchery; that, in view of advice received from the Minister of Internal Affairs, opossum skins be returned 'to she original owners from whom, they wereseized. A wire also was received from Mr C. E. Statham, M.P., advising that tho Minister would do his utmost to have the legislation regarding opossum skins put through this session. With reference to the Angling Committee's report, Mr Wilson advised having vieited Sullivan's dam in company with Mr Hungerford. He (Mr Wilson) considered that stream should not be opened for fishing this season, and his proposal to , ' that effect was carried.

As regards the Game Committee, Mr Baker, moved that Mr M'Lay be authorised to do the culling of red deer at the rate of 9s per day, and Mr Gillespie be also directed to assist, and to be paid for each animal ebot, while the ranger be instructed to bring in the skins whenever such action was possible., Both reports were adopted, after some discussion on minor matters.

The Curator at 'the Clinton hatcheries (Mr J. Stevens) reported that two Capo Barren geeso had given satisfactory encouragement. As regards the _ Canadian geese, their progress under certain circumstances was fairly satisfactory. Both the golden and diamond pheasants had commenced laying. -The birds at present in stock comprised four Canadian geese, four old Capo Barren geese and the same number of young birds, three golden pheasants, and' two diamond pheasants. As regards tho fish, early in the month the work of liberating the two-year-old fish was completed, 4480 being liberated and 640 kept for stock purposes. Although a commencement was made with liberating the yearlings some two weeks ago, the present progress was somewhat slow. Up to the -present date about 7000 had been set free, 6000 of tho number being rainbow trout, with an additional 3000 to turn out. These trout (yearlings) were from ova procured from Hawea, all of which had done remarkably welL In conclusion, Mr Stevens observed that, in his opinion, many of the smaller streams would be better served if stocked every second season with from four to five thousand each.—This report was also adopted. The Fiannce , Committee reported that tnp society had a credit 'balance of £96 10s 4&