ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20432, 12 June 1928, Page 6

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

annual report. The annual report of the Otago Acclimatisation Society states, inter alia: FISHING. The sale of fishing licenses for the year constitutes a record in the history of the society, the sales this year amounting to £2184 9s 6d as against £IBBS 10s last year. This result indicates clearly that the policy of stocking the rivers regularly has met with deserved success. Generally speaking, reports received indicate that the season was a good one, especially in the earlier and later months. The fishing, however, was not so succcsful during the dry spell that ensued from January to March. The rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs were liberally stocked with fry in 1926 and 1927, and the policy of the society is to continue this work during the coming season. Reports from different fishing districts are quoted in the annual report, and all declare the sport for the past season to have been entirely satisfactory. WHITEBAIT. Ranger Pollett obtained several convictions against offenders of the whitebait regulations. Information was also collected regarding the run of whitebait in the rivers of our district and forwarded to the secretary of the Marine Department, Wellington. Generally speaking, the information was to the effect that the run occurred from the middle of August to the beginning of December, and that there was no noticeable diminution in the numbers that run up the streams as compared with past years. In no instance was a close season for the Otago rivers advocated. GAME. There is a marked increase in the cash received for game licenses, the amount of the sales for this year being £464 12s lOd, as against £342 Is 9d in 1927. QUAIL. The number of native and imported game licenses sold indicates that the quail are still fairly numerous in the Central Otago district, notwithstanding the toll taken by sportsmen, and those destroyed in other ways. Many sportsmen came to Otago from other districts to enjoy quail shooting. The society continued its policy of trapping some of these birds after the shooting season was over, and those trapped were liberated in areas where the bird was not established. The number put out was 60. , PHEASANTS. Inquiries made regarding the pheasants liberated last year showed that those sent to Palmerston did not breed, and the number has dwindled until less than half are still alive. It is reported that several were killed by weasels. On the other hand, some of those put out in the Waipori district have bred, as young chicks have been seen. These birds cannot be shot and the properties on which they were placed have been declared protected'areas. The society is anxious to give the pheasants every reasonable chance to increase, and appeals to sportsmen and others not to shoot at or disturb the birds in any way should they come across them. CHIKKOR. A shipment of 42 birds out of 50 ordered was landed in Dunedin in May, 1927. In September, 1927, 24 were liberated in the Hunter Valley by Ranger Duncan. Mr J. Buckley, of Hawea, reported recently that, while engaged in culling operations in November, he had seen chikkor in two different places, and he was impressed with their flying capacity. It is evident that some of the birds have survived the winter, and if they prove capable of holding their own against the weasel and ferret, they should do well in the hilly country. Another lot is expected to arrive about August or September. Mr C. D. Stronach, of Ettrick, was supplied with three pair of chikkor but, notwithstanding that the birds received every care and attention, he managed to save only one out of 30 young ones that were hatched out. CANADIAN GEESE. Although there was an open season again last year, few of these birds were shot. They are increasing rapidly in numbers in the Hunter .Valley, and it is proposed to capture a considerable number during the coming season, and liberate them on some of the bigger lakes in the society’s district. RED DEER. The number of red deer stalking licenses sold in 1928 was 30. The fees paid for the 1027 season amounted to £137 12s, which was £ls 2s greater than for 1926. Considering the bad weather the stalkers bad to contend with the heads taken out were very fair, and quite creditable to the deer forests. OPOSSUMS. The amount received for opossum royalties and licenses was 16a 6d, including £47 for fines and £i ! Is 9d for sale of confiscated skins. Tins is £l4O Is 6d less than came in last year. In 1926 the number of skins sold on which royalties were paid was 22,392. while in 1927 the number fell to 16,054. In 1927, 120 licenses were sold to trappers. The council would have preferred to have a close season this year, as reports from the ranger and others indicated that the animals were not so numerous as formerly. However, it was decided to declare an open season partly for the employment it would give and also because it was considered that if the season was closed the poacher would reap the benefit. TREE PLANTING. The trees in the plantation at Clinton continue to make satisfactory progress. Recently the second leaders on the Douglas fir wore cut back by the curator and his assistant. The other trees in the plantation will receive attention this year. A sowing of seed was made some months ago. Although the young shoots came away reasonably well, they were eaten off by some insect. SHAGS. The amount paid out for shags’ beaks amounted to £B4 16s 6d. This represents 564 shags and nine eggs. HAWKS. With a view of diminishing the number of hawks in the district and of conserving game birds, it was decided to pay 3d per pair of hawks’ loet sent into the office of the society up to December 31 last. That these birds are still plentiful is proved by the .fact that the number of feet sent in was 5967. These cost the society £75 12s lOd, but the council considers the money has been well spent. SUGGESTED CONFERENCE. No conference has been held by the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies’ Association since September, 1926. A suggestion was made by the North Canterbury Society that a conference of delegates from the acclimatisation societies of the South Island should be held in Christchurch, but the conference did not eventuate owing to lack of support from some of the societies concerned. RANGERS. The society has two zealous officers in Rangers Pellett and Campbell. As a result of their activities, poaching has been minimised to a considerable extent. The council appreciates receiving reports of poaching from various correspondents, and these reports are treated as confidential. The decision of the council not to allow those who are convicted to take out licenses the following year will help to lessen the number of offenders against the game and fishing regulations.