ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1866, 26 August 1887, Page 18

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A meeting of the Council of the Acclimatisation Society was held at the Government Build ings on Tuesday afternoon, and attended by Messrs J. P. Maitland (in the chair), Begg, Wilkie, Chisholm, Danson, Carlton, Stoddart, and Deans.

The Eev. Mr Waddell wrote with reference to the importation of birds from Home. — The council expressed sympathy with the object, but regretted that the society was not in a financial position to do anything in the matter at present.

Mr Donald Reid, solicitor, having written with reference to a notice in the New Zealand Gazette to proclaim the Lee stream a watercourse for tailings, it was resolved that the society object to the proclamation being given effect to.

Mr John Butt, ranger, wrote stating that the American whitefish was not a failure as was generally expected. For the last six months he had spent many hours at the pond he placed them in at Clintohj but he did hd^see any fish until lately, when he was agreeably surprised to see a fish swimming about ib the pond, which he succeeded iv catohing. He would detain it in a box till it could be examined by an expert. Sir Robert Stout wrote, in answer to a letter from Mr Wilkie, as follows : — " I have read youi letter with great pleasure, and I hope that now there is some chance of salmon being acclimatised in New Zealand. I have no doubt that the small sum you ask for keeping salmon in the rivers may be granted by Parliament. I shall bring your request before the Cabinet as soon as Ministers assemble again in Wellington, and let you know what can be done;" Mr F. Deahsj rAngef, reported that the society had not been so successful in collecting ova as in previons years. On the sth inst. Ranger Butt and hiniß&lF went to Queenstown for the purpose of an additional supply, and they obtained 170,000 more ; so that the society had now about 343,000 brown trout ova. In addition to this, there were about 50,000 Loch Leven trout ova, 1000 Scotch burn trout ova, and 14,000 American brook trout ova. These lots were nearly all hatched, yielding strong and healthy fry. Some 100 Loch Leven trout and 100 American brook trout had been presented to the Lakes Acclimatisation Society, both lots being one-year-old fish. The quantities of ova sent away to date were as follow : — To the Tauranga Society, 2000 brook trout; Acclimatisation Society, Feilding, 3000 Loch Leven trout ; and to Sydney, per Mr Lloyd, 200 brook trout and 1800 brown trout ova. The first lot had arrived at its destination in good condition but word had not been obtained as to the result of the other lots.

The following letter from "Jock Scott," Angling Editor of Otago Witness, was read : — "It has frequently been brought under my notice by correspondents and others that there are large quantities of brown trout in Otago and Blueskhi harbours, also in Lakes Waihola and Waipori, and that notwithstanding the aiwinnant vamilofinna attained n&4;tina fcYiPRP fiRTI

it is a notorious fact that large quantities yeariy find their , way into the market to be sold privately. I would, therefore, venture to suggest that ,thJs sealsori these particular waters be leased fy pttbtic tfuStrort or Render, or that a yearly license be ctiafg'&u' to fishermen— say, if not more than one, £I,— and thatnsmnongersbe also charged a nominal license to retail. If this step was decided upon, we would then know for certain if these valuable fish are such a success as common report would have us believethey are in the waters pbovementioned. Looking at it also from a monetary point of view, I think that the society may just as well have the pleasure of putting a few pounds yearly into its not too full coffers aS those who in the past — if we can believe what fee tfian in the street says—have made a very nice litite income froni.the sale of these same ' golden speckled tf out.' " It was resolved that licenses to net in the Otago Harbour, Blueskin- Bay, and Waihola lake be issued at the rate of three guineas per net, and that licenses to fishmongers to sell trout be issued at £1.

fin reference to the above I hear that the regulation* will b« the same as those in force on Lake Wakatip'tf— vi#.y fciets with 3in mesh. The yearly license of £3* will entitle sfly one to net with one net in Otago Elarbour, Bwes&m Harbour, Lakes Waihola and Waipori.— Jock Scott].