ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2009, 25 August 1892, Page 26

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The monthly meeting of the council of the Acclimatisation Society was held at the Government Buildings on Tuesday afternoon, and attended by Messrs J. P. Maitland (chairman), A. C. Begg, R. Chisholm, J. Edgar, G. P. Clifford, J. O. Mackenzie. P. C. Neill, P. F. Stoddart, T. Brown, D. Russell (secretary), and F. Deans (manager).

MANAGER'S nEPORT. Manager Deans reported for the month of August as follows :—: — The egg harvest is now over for the season. Ranger Burt having been laid up we have not succeeded in procuring quite so many ova this season as last. The total number, including those from the stock fish, is 388,800, of which number 289,000 are river ova from the brown trout. During the ova season the following gentlemen rendered the society considerable assistance : — Messrs Grant (Palmerston), Black (Opoho), Shennan and M'Pherson (Berwick), Nelson (Lovell's Flat), and P. Nelson, jun. (Balclutha). I would recommend that the 1 isheries Conservation Act be so amended that any person erecting a weir or dam in the bed or natural course of a stream shall be required to construct fishways or fish ladders to enable salmon or trout to ascend the rivers. Further, that as in some instances fish are known to be destroyed wholesale by turbines or waterwheels, any person deviating the water- of a stream from its natural course for motive or other purposes be required to erect and maintain above such waterwheel or turbine a screen or grating sufficiently small in the interstices as will prevent salmon or trout descending through the machinery and getting destroyed I am pleased to state that Ranger Burt, who had a. relapse lately, is improving again, and is now better.

The report was adopted, and ifc was resolved that the recommendation with regard to weirs be referred to the executive.

The following letter was read :—: —

Referring to the fourth resolution passed by the delegates of the acclimatisation societies at the meeting held at Oamaru on the 16fch March last, I have now the honour to forward herewith for your remarks copies of draft regulations for the South Island Eastern district. Copies have also been forwarded to the other South Island societies not represented at the meeting, as it may perhaps be possible to make the regulations apply to the whole of the South Island. It has not been found convenient to make general netting regulations, consequently they will require to be made in respect of each society as heretofore.

I should be glad to ascertain from you as soon as possible about how many fishing licenses of each sort you will require, and in what numbers they should be bound up.— l am, Ac, Lewis 11. H. Wilson, Assistant Secretary. The CiiAinsi-VN said at the convention which was held in March last there was a resolution passed, viz. — " That the Government be requested to Gazette uniform regulations applicable to the whole of the east coast of the South Island and the Lake counties."

After some discussion with regard to the regulations forwarded, it was resolved that the season previously recommended for perch fishing be adhered to, as being more suitable for the district ; also that the regulations as to trout licenses be agreed to, with the exception of that relating to boys' licenses, in respect of which the council were of opinion that 10s licenses should be issued for youths 16 years of age and under, and LI licenses for youths above that age, as heretofore.

It was resolved that Is 6d per head be allowed for shags' heads during the months of November, December, and January. Mr D. A. Purvis, of Pukerau, was recommended as an honorary ranger of the society.