ACCLIMATISATION MATTERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21244, 27 January 1931, Page 5

ACCLIMATISATION MATTERS.

MEETING OF SOCIETY. The first monthly meeting for the year of the council of the Otago Acclimatisation Society was held last night, the president (Mr C. A. Wilson) occupying the chair. There were also present Messrs S. F. Aburn, J. H. Stewart, J. Hutchison, S. Cousins, T. Long, S. Porter. A. J. White, H. Dodgshun, W. G. Reid, G. Turner, and C. Baker. A request was received from the curator of the hatchery (Mr W. Clariugbold) for better lighting in the hatchery, skylights being suggested.—There was some discussion, the suggestion being made by Mr Cousins that glass tiles should be put in the roof at regular intervals. —-Mr Baker said that at hatcheries he had visited in Scotland the buildings were kept in darkness, the .“picking-over” work being done by candle-light.—The chairman said that they had had skylights in the' hatchery at Clinton and, as far as he knew, the light had not adversely affected the ova.—The suggestion was also made that a moveable electric light should be provided.—lt was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Hatchery Committee with power to act. Mr W. T. Hentighan’s resignation from the committee was accepted with regret, and Mr J. Macone was appointed to fill the vacancy. ANGLING COMMITTEE. The Angling Committee reported as follows; The Marine Department, Wellington, wrote referring to the question of netting at the mouth of the Tokomairiro River, and advising that Mr Hefford, who had visited the mouth of the stream, had not seen any reason for changing the netting limits.—Received. The Lakes District Acclimatisation Society wrote thanking the society for sending on 25,000 fry in addition to the eyed ova previously sent. —Received. The ' secretary of the Taieri Anglers’ Club (Mosgiel) wrote asking for a medal for his club’s competition at the Waipori dam. —Granted. Mr James Crawford (Tapanui) wrote enclosing a list of 20 holders of licenses in the Tapanui district who objected to portion of the Pomahaka being reserved for 4 fly fishing, and Mr George Howat (Panama) wrote thanking Mr T. Long for his trophy; also regarding the deputation to wait on the council of the society with regard to worm fishing in the Pomahaka. —The chairman said he did_ not think that the society would be justified in altering the regulations when so many were against the proposal.—Mr Aburn said that other societies had. done it and, if the alteration were in the general interests of fishing, it should be made. —Mr Baker referred to the danger of having too many regulations.—Mr Stewart moved that the petitioners should be ■written to stating that, while the society was anxious to foster fly fishing"in every possible way, the opposition to the proposal to reserve part of the Pomahaka River for fly fishing was too strong and the project would be abandoned. —The motion was carried. Mr M. Barratt (Mosgiel) forwarded a report on fishing at Manorburn dam, and suggested that the Poolburn dam should be stocked with brown and Loch Leven vtrout. —Received. The report was adopted. GAME COMMITTEE. The Game Committee reported as follows: — , . The Department of Internal Affairs wrote acknowledging .receipt of the society’s recommendation for a close season next year for opossums.—Received. The department also wrote asking for the society’s opinion as to the removal or protection in the district from Canadian geese. —A reply was sent that the society is in favour of an open season, the matter to be again reviewed after that.—-Ap-proved. ... ~ , Another communication from the_ department was a circular letter inquiring as to the amount of money spent by the society on deer destruction for the year. It was decided to inform the department that, as the Government cullers went into the district to kill deer, the culler under the society’s control ceased operations as it had been decided not to do anything further. The society had offered free ammunition to those who wished to kill the deer, but had had no applications. In addition the society was carrying a heavy overdraft at present owing to the erection of the new hatchery. A further letter was received notifying the protection of the Chatham Island inollymawk, brown kaka, and various shags, namely—Bounty Island, Auckland ' Island, Campbell Island, spotted, and blue shags.—Received. The Director-general, _ Department of Agriculture, wrote notifying that the Government had approved the removal of protection from stoats and weasels in all areas of land of not less than 60 acres of natural forest, and asked for suggestions regarding the copy enclosed of the proposed Order-in-Council. —It was decided to reply that the society heartily approved of the proposed Order-in-Coun-cil,< ... The secretary of the Southland Society wrote regarding German owls, saying that his society was awaiting the decision of the. Farmers’ Union before coming to a decision regarding these birds, and also that the society was applying for a close season this year for opossums. —Received. The report was adopted. GENERAL. It was reported that 2967 pairs of hawks’ feet had been sent to the society during October and November, 1930, £3O 19s 9d having been paid out for these. It was reported that all the fish at the hatchery had been put into the ponds and were doing well. During the hot weather there had \been a heavy mortality, due principally to the large quantities of green slime which had found its way into the hatchery. Of the 100.000 fry kept, only 64,000 now remained. —The question of avoiding the in. flux of green slime was discussed. It was also reported that as soon as possible a metalled road should be formed as an approach to the hatchery. This would be needed before winter. —It was decided to go off" with the work as soon as possible. The chairman reported that it had been suggested that a certain quantity of the ova collected annually Should be dealt with at Pembroke. The Government hatchery would be available for the work and, as the water was warmer than at Waitati, it would take leas time to hatch out the fry, and the society would be able to fulfil its orders more expeditiously.—Members objected on the grounds that a large hatchery had been built at considerable expense, and it seemed foolish not to use it. —Mr Porter said that it would take a year or two to get the new hatchery working at its best, and it seemed advisable to use the Pembroke hatchery in the meantime. —It was pointed out that it had taken only 21 days to hatch out the ova at Pembroke this season compared with over 70 days at Waitati.—Mr Baker asked how many ova could be dealt with) at Pembroke, and was informed that the society’s hatchery could accommodate 800.000 and the Government hatchery could deal with 1,000,000. —Mr Baker made the suggestion that both hatcheries might be used and more ova sold. —The matter was left in the hands of the Hatchery Committee.