ACCLIMATISATION SOCIEIY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2511, 30 April 1902, Page 53

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIEIY.

The usual meeting of tho Acclimatisation Society was held on Friday afternoon, when there were present— Messrs A. C Begg (in the chair). R. Chisholm, P. C. Neill, A C. Stronach, F. Brown, A. E. Farquliaj. R Forrest, J. Roberts, G. M. Marshall, .1. S. Thompson, and Dr de Lautour. The secretary (Mr D. Russell) and the masiager (Mr F. Deans) were also in attendance. A ■telegram from Mr H. Buckland apologising for non-attendance was read. The Chairman intimated that tho number of fishing licenses issued during the season showed an increase- — viz., men's, 493; boys', 107; ladies', 37; half-yearly, 107: perch, 74 ; —total, 823. The following report from the ranger was read and received: — '"There js little to report since last meeting. The work at Clinton is confined to assisting Mr M'Cormack with the erection of the new hatchery. For the purpose of facilitating the emptying and cleaning of the races, acour pipes have been fixed into the races, and a number of fish of various species and ages have been handed over to the Stirling Angling Club and placed in the river at Stirling. The pond containing the Loch Leven fry has beeu run off iind the fish drafted, the largest ones being ■taken out, and in the beginning of the week the pond containing tho JLoch Leven fiy. which are being reserved for stock fioh, v. ill be similarly dealt with. At Opoho the ,-ilterations to the ponds ate being pushed on, but the recent wet weather lia^ very much retarded onerations." A letter was read from Mr F. R. Chapman re the recent decision in the duck-shoot-ing case, and it was decided not to proceed •with the prosecution A letter from Mr Buckland was read dealing with the netting of sea trout. A discussion ensued on the question of ttUtiauis jacifcioai on. jciveia .witiua ilia, jnfia

hibited distance from their mouths. It was pointed out that poaching went oif-to an alarming extent, and it was thought better to throw the river open for a certain period of tho year, as thereby the society would derive some revenue, and the moral effect would be to decrease poaching. Mr Brown argued that netting should be prevented during the rod season at the mouths, as the fish swarmed over the shallow bars like sheep. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Chiehoim— " That steps bo taken to get power to issue netting licences for draught nets only for trout in the sea, the "xtcutive to be empowered to settle the nece.-eary deA letter was received from the Marine Department with reference to the proposed fi?h hatchery at Portobello, .stating that the Minister of Marine considered that a board of five members should first be tried, and the number afterwards increased if it was thought advisable, and that it was intended to entrust the management of the hatchery to the board.— Ab the department made no provision for the society to be represented on the board it was decided to withdraw the society's offer of £250 towards the cost of the proposed hatchery. A police report on the poaching of trout at Owaka was referred to the society s solicitor. . , It was decided to obtain 5000 Rainbow trout ova fiom Auckland, and also to apply to the Government for 5000 salmon fry. the progeny of the la«t shipment of eggs.