OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20268, 29 November 1927, Page 13

OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the council of the Otago Acclimatisation Society was held last evening, Mr A. Cowie being in the chair, in the absence »f the president, Mr C. P. M. Butterworth. There were also present Messrs Rutherford, Aburn, Smith, Stewart, Dodgshun, J. R. Wilson, Turner, Long, Hutchison, White, C. A. Wilson, Howes, Williams, and Reid. MANAGER’S REPORTS. The Manager (Mr R. Hanning), ing in connection with angling matters, stated that u_> to November 17 710,807 fry had been liberated. About 1,100,000 had been allocated, so that two-thirds had been put out. The distribution should be finished before Christmas. Fishing licenses had sold well this year. Up to date the society had received £l3Bl for these, as against £IOO3 for the corresponding period last year.—The report was approved. The Manager, reporting on matters pertaining to game, suggested that the question of having an open season for opossums be not definitely settled until the society had had a conference with the skin brokers. Of the six chir or sent to Mr Stronach, of Miller’s Fiat, three had died.—Adopted. GAME COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The Game Committee reported that a Government recommendation, from the Department of Internal Affairs, as to an open season for . taking deer had been approved, as had also the number of deer to be taken. The following replies had been received in connection with the society’s inquiry as to an open season for opossums in 1928: — Marlborough Society: “No opossums in our district.” Waitaki Society: “No opossums in our district.” Ashburton Society: “Practically no opossums in our district.” Nelson Society: “ Applied for close season.” Waimate Society: “Government ignored our application last year for.close season.” Southland Society: “In favour of close season if Otago agrees.” Buller Society: “Matter held over.” Westland Society: “Applied for, open curtailed season.” North Canterbury Society; “Not in favour of close season.” These communications had been received by the commit tee.-j-The question of an open or close season to be decided later on. A communication from the North Canterbury Society suggesting the holding of a conference of delegates of South Island Acclimatisation Societies in January, and asking for remits and delegates, had been received and referred to the council. The committee recommended that the following be embodied in the shooting regulations:—“That shooting of native and imported game may begin not earlier than one hour before sunrise, and must cease not later than one hour after sunset, and that all shooting of native and imported game by means of artificial lights bo prohibited.” “ That the use of power boats and Launches for chasing and taking native game be prohibited.” The regulations last year contained the following—“ Shooting may begin not earlier than one hour before sunrise, and cease not later than one hour after sunset.” This regulation had also been published in the notice issued by the Department of Internal Affairs. “No person shall use any power boat or launch in connection with the taking or killing of imported or native game.”

An application from the Mayor for funds, in connection with a recognition of Mr T. K. Sidey’s efforts to bring into existence the Summer Time Act, had been referred to thO- Finance Committee. The authorities at Alipore, Calcutta, had written stating that they were endeavouring to send by the Sussex 50 chikkor in December, This intimation had been received by the committee. Mr C. D. Stronach, of Ettrick,. had advised that another of the chikkor sent him had died.— The report was adopted. ANGLING COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

.Tho Angling Committee reported that the matter of supplying cookies for the fish in Clinton Hatchery had been left in the hands of the chairman of tho committee. The committee recommended, in view of the frequency of the law regarding angling being broken, that the secretary write to the Marine Department asking if there was a penalty tor a person who could not produce his trout fishing license when requested to do so by the ranger, oven although he had actually taken out a license. The committee recommended that tho following words bo struck out of one of the fishing regulations—“ and such lead, or sinker, must be tied above the baits used.” Tho regulation read: —“No person fishing tor trout, perch, or tench shall use more than three baits on one lino, no artificial flies shall have more than one hook, and it shall not bo lawful to use more than one lead or sinker, and such lead, or sinker, must be tied above all baits used.” Tho Ballarat Society had written as to tho shipment of rainbow trout eggs sent by tho Otago Society, that the eggs had been hatched out before they reached Melbourne. The committee recommended that no charge bo made for tho shipment, and that a copy of a letter received from the Howietown people be forwarded to the Ballarat Society. The committee recommended that, with regard to tho lot*, of rainbow trout eggs sent away 100,000 bo charged for. This was in connection with a recommendation from the Department of Internal Affairs.

A request from the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association for a complimentary license for one of its members to fish had been granted. Ranger Pellett had been instructed to report as to an application from Miss M'Corkmdalc, Manuka Creek, for some trout or perch to liberate in a stream running through her property. The committee recommended the following allocation of 100,000 crossbred fry from Clinton hatcheryEvansdale, 10,000; Waikouaiti (above Mount Watkins). 25,000; Bethunes Gully, 5,000; Shag ,River (about five miles above Dunback), 20,000; Mill Stream (Mosgiel), 5,000; Puerua. 15,000; Blackburn (Clyde), 5,000; Owaka, 15,000.—Adopted. GENERAL. It was decided in connection with the proposed conference of South Island societies to be held in January to appoint a sub-committee to prepare remits, two mentioned at the meeting being the necessity for anglers to carry their licenses with them while fishing, and that honorary rangers be appointed annually, and to hold office for the year. The question of stoats and weasels being protected came up, and it was pointed out that they were under one Act, and not under another. One member remarked that they were protected, yet not protected.

Opposite opinions were expressed ae to the value of the little owl. One member said he did not think that they did an enormous lot of harm, which was queried by another member. It was alleged that they hung about the edge of forests, and destroyed the small birds, and also that investigation showed that they consumed mice. In the course of the discussion it was stated that they had been introduced into Central Otago with the object, of killing tho small birds that were destroying the fruit. The Chairman remarked that they were very hard on quaii. The prevailing opinion was that they were a pest.

The rights of property owners to grant permission to fish on their property produced an emphatic statement that while they could fish, they could not transfer that right to anyone else.