OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17326, 28 May 1918, Page 5

OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. •There was a very large attendance at the fifty-second annual meeting. of the Otago Acclimatisation Society last even inc. The president (Mr G. \V. M'lntosh) was in the chair. In moving tho adoption of the report and balance sheet, the Chairman expressed pleasure at tho largo attendance. So many members had gone to the front that the financial position had been doubtful at one time, but numbers of young anglers had come forward t<D fill tho ranks. The supplies of fry which had come forward had been leas than thoso of last year, the decrease being due to the curtailed railway facilities, and also to the absence of many willing helpers, due to the shortage of labour. The society, however, had been fortunate in making provision for full supplies this year. Arrangements had been made to get a supply of cut-throat trout from Canada, but the wax, with the attendant dislocation of shipping, had delayed this project indefinitely. The Tomahawk Lagoon had been kept up to the satisfaction of local anglers, and they expected to bo able to open the Sullivan dam next season. Tho rainbow trout in Lake Hawea had done exceedingly well. The variety had also been taken on the Clutha as far down as Logan's Ferry. Dealing with tho condition of the deer herds, Mr M'lntosh said it had been decided to cull out 500 of tho red deer in 'tho Hawea district at 3s 6d a head, but lie thought at least 1000 should be killed off in the immediate future. Tho red deer at Pomahaka were not too thick, but new'blood was required to bring them up to quality. Despite the fact that an open season had been declared for deer in tho Lindis and Morven Hille districts, no ono had taken any advantage of tho chanco to shoot at tho proper timo for procuring venison. Owing to the fact that tho Government was fully occupied with urgent war measures, the society had still to defer its purpose of getting control over opossums/ which were being rapidly killed off in several districts. Tho new pond at the Clinton hatcheries was not yet* in uee, but it would enable a larger number of yearlings and two-year-olds to be turned "out. lie regretted that, the vice-president (Mr C. P. M. Butterworth) had temporarily retired from tho council, as his knowledge of angling and deer-stalking had been invaluable. Mr A. H. Jenkins seconded the motion, which was carried. ' The following office-bearers were elected: President, Mr G. W. M'lntosh (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs R. Rutherford and A. E. Jenkins (re-elected); members of tho' council—Messrs A. C-owie, H. Islip, T. Long, S. Cousins, J. Black, and J. Robinson. Mr J. Mitchell (president of the Mataura Society) said he had been asked to let tho Otago body know that the streams in tho Wyndham and Mataura districts were carrying good stocks of lish, but were inaccessible owing to 'the abnormal srrowth of broom and gorse on the banks. His societv sought assistance in the matter. —The President said the request would no doubt bo favourably considered by the council, as had been the case in the past. Mr A. E. Jenkins moved a vote of thanks to the chair. Tho president, he said, was a man of infinite tact and humour, who accomplished a marvellous amount of work for tho society in an unobtrusive manner.— The motion was carried by acclamation. ' In responding, the Chairman acknowledged tne invaluable help given to him by the secretary, the curator at Clinton, and the rangers—al! of whom carried out their duties with conspicuous abilftv.