ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22352, 28 August 1934, Page 10

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING The monthly meeting of the council ,of the Otago Acclimatisation Society was held last night, and. was, attended by Messrs J. H. Stewart (in the chair), C. A.. Wilson, Ti Long, H. M’DowellSm.th, H. G. Williams, G. Porter, W. G. Held, J. .Hutchison, W. H. Wilson. S. EL Barnes, A. B. Welch, R. Fountain, and S. Fj.'Aburn. /'i THE OPOSSUM SEASON.; y Several applications for permission; to retain live: opossums in captivity were before the meeting, and several members expressed the opinion that these, applications were becoming very numerous, and if-the practice developed to any extent it might become undesirable. Others considered that the practice was a eood one in that when the opossums were released they had the opportunity of establishing themselves in new places. It was finally decided to make no objection to the granting of permission to applicants by the Department of Internal Affairs. Messrs Dalgety and Co. wrote saying that they had come to the conclusion that the opossum trapping reason in Otago was opened one month too early and that if the opening were postponed to July 1 a considerable improvement would be seen in the quality of the catch. It was decided, on the recommendation of the Game Committee, ’ that 'inquiries should be made from 100 trappers whether they preferred July; and August rather than June and July for an open season. The superintendent of'police, Dunedin, advised that the Commissioner of Police had consented to the constables at Balclutha and Owaka. acting as certifying officers for opossum skins. ANGLING COMMITTEE. •’ The Angling Committee reported oh the question of repairing the hatchery at Pembroke, and recommended that an estimate of the cost of repairs be obtained. An order for an additional SO.OOO brown trout eyed ova from the Geelong Society and one for 50,000 from the Waitaki Society were , received. ’ .

It was decided that prepared post cards, as submitted by Mr G. Howes, should be sent to agents and hotelkeepers through' out the district, with the request that regular reports on the condition of streams should be'sent to the society.. It was decided to grant a medal for competition among members of the Tapanui Angling Association. The Tapanui’ Association forwarded a suggestion that the daily limit for trout should be reduced from 25 to 20 and the minimum length should be increased from 10 to II inches. Mr Hawes and flthe secretary were appointed to draw up a questionnaire to find the views on these points. The Otago Anglers’ Association made the suggestion that minnows should be netted in Lake Waipori and transferred to Mahiuerangi dam, and offering the assistance of members of the association. It was decided that the offer be accepted. The Angling Committee’s report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. The chief inspector of fisheries (Mr A. E. Hefford) acknowledged receipt of the society’s letter setting out a proposal put forward by Mr H. G. Williams that the various acclimatisation societies should make an endeavour to secure all possible data regarding the amount of damage done on trout streams uy shags. The matter would be supported at the annual conference by Professor Percival, director of the Central Freshwater Research Com in 1 ttee. —R ecei ved. The Taranaki Society advised that the 50,000 eyed, ova forwarded from the Waituti hatchery had arrived in good order.—Received.

Mr G. Howes forwarded the following information regarding the little owl: “ Its food consists of mice, rats, beetles, earwigs, and moths, _ imported birds, lizards, frogs, and native birds, and it gets its supplies in that order, the quantity diminishing so that the native birds form only a small proportion. Somewhere in between is an additional food supply such as dead rabbits, hares, and hedgehogs. The probable ratio will be 4C per cent, rats and mice, 25 per cent, insects, 15 per cent, imported birds, 15 per cent, sundries such as lizards, frogs and. carrion, and 5 per oent. native birds. The little owl forms a natural check on the imported bird and so is of special value to the farmer in keeping down a super abundance of grain-eating finches.’V.-The letter was received. ,• GENERAL. In reply to a question from the Department of Internal Affairs regarding the number of spoonbill ducks in the society’s district, it was decided to advise that the birds were numerous. The question of an open season for chukor was deferred until next season.