ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22020, 1 August 1933, Page 5

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

MEETING OF COUNCIL The monthly meeting of the council of the Otago Acclimatisation Society was held in the office of the secretary (Mr R. Hanning) last night; present —Messrs J. H. Stewart (in the chair), C. A. Wilson, S. F. Aburn, G. Porter, S. H. Barnes, J. Macneil, G. B. Turner, A. J. White, G. Howes, W. G. Reid, A. B. Wilch, T. Long, J. Hutchison, W. H. Wilson, M. Barratt and H. G. Williams. The secretary of the Returned Soldiers' Association wrote asking if the society could find work for unemployed members of the association.—Referred to thj secretary to reply. Several requests were received for an extension of the opossum season.—The chairman said the council had no jurisdiction in the matter. The Department of Internal Affairs wrote asking for information on the habits, etc., of mallard ducks.—lt was agreed to supply the information, and the Game Committee recommended that the society apply to the Minister for a warrant to trap mallard drakes and ducks on the Waikouaiti Lagoon; that it be pointed out that the Minister asked the society to take mallard duck off its 10s license, and also ask for permission to put the mallard on the 10s license next shooting season.—The clause with reference to the trapping of mallards was struck out. and the remainder-of the clause was adopted.—The question of the i advisability of increasing duck stocks ' was referred to the Game Committee for a report. The Conservator of Forests, Slat" Forest Service, Invercargill, wrote advising that officers of the State Forest Service would no longer act as certifying officers for the certifying of the statements of opossum trappers. The secretary of the South Canterbury Society wrote asking if the society wes able to supply Californian quail, and the price.—Tt was recommended by the Game Committee that a reply be sent that there will be no likelihood of being able to supply any Californian quail this year as the birds would be liberated in the Otago district, and some have been promised to the Waitaki Society. The secretary of the Tasmanian Game Protection and Acclimatisation Association wrote regretting it was unable to supply stubble quail as they are very scarce, but advising that it had plenty of brown or swamp quail which it could supply in exchange for Canadian gew. —The Game Committee recommended that an endeavour be made to get a dozen pairs of Canadian S ecsc for the association and to ask it to supply full

information about'the swamp quail or" any other birds it could send in exchange. Mr W. Kean, Balclutha, wrote thanking' the society, on behalf of the 24 sportsmen who signed the petition asking for an extension of the game shooting season this year, for the ..consideration* given to their request. The Game Committee recommended that the offer of Mr J. R. Dickison to supply free of cost nine paradise ducks be accepted and the birds sent to the hatchery at Waitati; also that the necessary wire netting, etc., be purchased for a run for the birds. —The report was adopted. \ The Pheasant Committee reported that Messrs Stewart and Aburn had recently taken to the hatchery three cock and three hen pheasants from Mr Dickison, and that it would necessary to build accommodation for another cock pheasant. A letter was received from Mr Claringbold suggesting. that some covering be supplied for the pheasants. Mr Fountain thought this was necessary, and Mr Abunr said he would consult Mr Dickison about the matter. —It was agreed to supply later a setting of pheasant's eggs to Mr J. Faulk's, of Pembroke. Requests for hen pheasants were refused, settings of eggs to be supplied if acceptable. Mr Fountain reported that he had received one hen pheasant from Mrs Wenlock, of Waifati, and one from Mrs Albert Robertson, of Middlemarch, and had taken both to the hatchery.—lt was decided to thank the donors. The Hatchery Committee's report and the ranger's report were adopted. The Finance Committee's report was read by the chairman. Mr Maconio said the Research Committee had been employed in practical work since last meeting, and a considerable amount of trapping had been done. Speaking of the proposed drainage of Lake Ellesmerc, he said it was a matter that largel}'' affected fish as well as birds. He thought the society should support the opposition to the draining of the lake, which would be a national loss.—lt was decided to support the North Canterbury Society in its con-

tcntion that Lake Ellestnere ought to be retained as it is to-day. The Angling Committee recpmmeiided that the Research Committee inquire into the question of a suitable tag for trout. The acting-secretary, Marine Department, Wellington, wrote saying he would be pleased to learn in due course the result of the proceedings the society purposes taking against sawmillers and others for the pollution of streams with saw-dust. The district engineer, Public Works Department, Dunedin, wrote regarding the loss of trout at the irrigation works at Tarras, and saying,they would do what they could to prevent a recurrence. It recommended that he bo thanked for his letter and informed that the society appreciated his co-opera-

tion. The secretary, North Canterbury Society, wrote regarding an exchange of eyed ova and saying they were willing to exchange brown trout ova for rainbow ova. —The letter was received. Mr F. W. Oakden, secretary, Upper Clutha Anglers' Association, wrote saying it was agreeable to exchange Jirown trout ova with the North Canterbury Society. Mr J. Faulks, Pembroke, wrote advising that there were 175,000 brown trout eggs in the Pembroke hatchery. Mr T. Cockburn, Waikaia, reported on a shag shooting expedition, 22 birds being accounted for. Mr L. Ball, Omakau, wrote asking for some trout fry for a stream running through his property. The letter was noted for attention. The Rev. A. Thomson, Milton, wrote pointing out that the forthcoming trout-fishing season will open on Sunday, October 1, and suggesting the season should commence on September 30. —It was recommended that a reply be sent saying the society had no power to amend the regulations. The secretary reported that a circular had been sent, to the angling clubs in the society's district asking them to get their members to fill in returns of fish caught during the previous fishing season; also that 11 returns had been received since last month. The total number of returns to date was 52, and the average number of fish taken for the season 111.—The report was adopted.