LAND AND WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 54

LAND AND WATER.

ACCLIM ATISATIOS SOCIETY.

ANISTUAI}' MEETING.

■ The- annual meeting of the Otago Acclimatisation Society was held in the Land JBo'ard room on' Friday afternoon, and was 7jwell attended, Mr T. Brown (in the absence

©{■'the president, Mr A. C. Begg) occupying the chair. The Hon. T. Fergus forwarded *n apology for absence, and the Chairman iaentioned that, of course, it was not neces-

sary to offer any excuse for the absence of the preseident and his (Mr Brown's) co-

. In presenting its report for the year 1904-1905 your council desires to place on record th© great loss sustained by your society through the death of Mr Arthur Stronach. Mr Stronach was for many years an active member of the council, and for two years acted as honorary treasurer. His -services were always available, >«md, being ai thorough sportsman, his advice and recommendations were greatly appreciated ■ by the members of your council.

During the year the society suffered a further loss by the death of Mr A. R. Blackwood, of Melbourne. Mr Blackwood was a life-member - 'pi the society, subscribing liberally to its £gnds, and particularly paid great attention to - jfche welfare of the red and fallow deer herds in. their infancy on the Morven Hills and Blue ■Mountains; in fact, the success that has attended our efforts with these herds of deer is in a great measure due to the care and ' interest Mr Blackwood took in them, and he seldom missed a season in visiting New Zealand for his favourite sport of deer-stalking. -iYour council desires to place on record its Appreciation of Mr Blackwood's generosity and interest in the work of your society. Financial.— On reference to the balance sheet t it -will -be sep— that the revenue for the year

,w"as.£l473 7 and the expenditure £1409 Os ■ fed, showing credit balance of £64 12s Cd en 1 jUhe year's operations. -.Licenses tissue: Men's fishing, 837; Tioys', ', 862;. ladies', 55; half-yearly, 164; perch, 61; i fallow deer, 55; red < r, 44; imported game. tl 32. - IFish-culture. — The quantities of fish at the ■'r. Bocjety's v -ponds «t Clinton are : — Salmon : - -Aged, "20; three years old, 200;* fry, 5500. Loch -, iieven trout : Aged, 150 ; three years old, 180 ; . one year old, 800; fry, 8000. Scotch burn t- trout: Aged, 100; one year old, 200. Rainbow febnt:- Aged, 170; four years old, 250; fry, 10,000. American brook trout: Various ages, JMfc Opoho ponds: — Locb. -Leven trout : Seren Jeara old, 60. Rainbow trout: Six years' old, VO ; two years old, 369. American brook trout : Six years old, 25. Bxotrn trout : 8000 fry. The quantities of fry distributed during the season wsre: — Brown trout, 919,000; Loch Leven, t i Scotch, burn, 103,000; American brook, iOOO; rainbow, 35,500. .Yearlings distributed: Brown trout, 600; loch Leven. 3200; Scotch imrn, 5700; rainbow, 2300; salmon, 1000. On referring to Appendix A it ■will be seen into .i»hicn streams they were liberated. There is again % considerable increase in the revenue derived irom the sale of fishing licenses, and, notwithstanding the increased •aramber of anglers, the stock of fisfe. in the .xivers was not appreciably diminished. Your council has in view the formation of more ponds at the Clinton hatchery, with the \intention of keeping trout until they axe two •years old. By turning two-year-old fish into -those rivers which are very heavily fished the Quantity of takeable trout will be greatly increased.

Itjias been decided to build a new hatchery •«t Clinton to replace the old wooden one there. JThe new hatchery will be built of concrete, 'similar to the one erected two years ago, which .is answering all purposes well. The past fishing season was rather disapjpointing, on account of the cold and wet spring and summer. The streams were in fine fishing order for th« first four months of the • season, but the changeable nature of the was* against the anglers. On suitable {A&ys anglers had no difficulty in filling their The Shag River was heavily fished, but good -were obtained up to the end of the Reason. The jaetting that is allowed by law in ifche tidal waterß of the Shag and Waikouaiti •Rivers is much to be regretted, and your council is not without hope that this existing drawback will be remedied. Lake Onslow is {well stocked with Loch Leyen trout, and fine {baskets were obtained during the season by the Roxburgh anglers. The lake can be fished bom the shore or by boat, and there is a good hut alongside the boathouse. ' The Pomahaka was not in good fishing trim teitil well on to ihe close of the season. Your council is pleased to record that at ihe instigation of your society the numerous bwners of flaxmills did. their utmost to keep Ike refuse from their mills from polluting the praters. ! The huts erected by the society have not

/been, mad© use of to the extent that was anticipated, but as the accommodation and convenience •of these huts become better known tyour council anticipates an improvement in Jfchis connection. These huts are provided [with spring mattresses, cooking utensils, and jaishes, so that parties using them only require (to take their blankets and provisions. The Scharge for use of hut is reasonable, being but [one shilling par night per bunk. There are fjl huts altogether four on the Pomahaka, |wo on the Waipahi, and one each on the jpwaka, Puerua, Mimihau, and Fraser Rivers, Sand Dunstan Creek. i Red Deer.— The present shooting season was tepened on the Ist April, 1905, and closes on lithe 31st May, 1905. Most of the stalkers feecured the number of heads permitted by itheir license. Several very fine heads were Sbbtained. The heads were under the average Shis year on account of th© late spring causing A scarcity of feed. Your council would recomanend to the incoming council the necessity oif tjetter supervision being taken over the herd &n Lake Hawea district, and would urge upon ■ihe G-overnment to have the deer country jmade into- a national deer park.

Fallow Deer. — This herd on the Blue Mountains appears to be doing well, and a number Joi >{ood heads have been secured this a&aaon.

[ but in view of the fact that a large number of ' stalkers visit this district, your council thinks that for the welfare of the herd it would proi bably be well to limit the number of bucks , to be shot to two.

Deer Shooting. — There were fewer stalkers on the hills after the red -deer stags this season, Messrs Henderson and -Lea-than*, from England, and Mr Armitage,- -from Victoria, being the only visitors. Mr Armitage is reported to have secured one real good head in his four. Of the local stalkers, the -most successful that we have heard- of are M.n- M-.- Gray, Dr Arkle, Mr J. CKane, and Mr A. Thow. Birds. — Grey duck and teal are fairly numerous, and on the opening day of the shooting season (Ist May) many very good bags were obtained, and a fair number of pigeons and swamp hens also were secured. Oalifornian quail are holding their own remarkably well in the Cromwell and Roxburgh districts. The wild geese are now fairly established, and are quite capable of taking care of themselves. Last year was the first season they were allowed to be shot, and now it is a. difficult matter for the sportsman to get within range of them. By an Order-in-Council the paradise duck is protected for this year throughout the whole _of New Zealand.

Tiiis society received through the Tourist Department in April 10 Canadian geese and four pintail ducks in fine condition. It was decided not to turn out these birds until after -the shooting season, and on further consideration it was resolved to keep the geese and try and breed from ihem, and liberate their progeny- The Tourist Department approved of this, and the geese have been provided with suitable quarters at the Clinton hatchery.

Fishing.— The society's gold medal for "fly" competition on the Waipahi was won by Mr William Marzhan with 46 fish, weighing 36§lb ; and the silver medal by Mr D. Finlayson with 13 fish, weighing 23flb. Poaching. — There have been several convictions obtained during the year for illegally taking game and trout, and in most instances your society is indebted to the country ocastable's for these convictions. Our expenses in connection with the suppression of poaching have this year been larger than on any previous occasion. Angling societies in the country districts have been the means of keeping down poaching to a great extent, and in any district -where an hon. ranker takes an interest in preserving game and trout very little crooked work goes on. The council would urge on angling clubs in the country districts the necessity of looking well after the shags. The society gives two shillings a head for shags killed on our inland streams.

New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies' Association. — This society held its annual meeting in "Wellington in July. Mr R. Chisholm and Mr T. Brown (vice-presidents) attended th« conference on behalf of this society. The meeting was well attended by delegates from the different societies throuehout New Zealand, and many wise suggestions and recommendations were agreed upon to put before the Government for the better protection of game and trout in the country.

Marine Hatchery. — Since the last annual meeting" very satisfactory progress has been made at the Portobeilo marine fish hatchery. All the buildings and fittings then in course of construction have been completed, and were utilised during the past year for experimental . work on local fishes and Crustacea. Several species were hatched out and reared for a considerable period, so that th« caretaker (Mr Anderton) has acquired familiarity with their '■ observation and handling. The board coni sidered thaj; this was essential before any work of introduction of foreign species was undertaken. Within the last three months | preparations have been made for the introduction of lobsters from the -Home Country; a very large and suitable deep-water • pond has been constructed, and arrangements are in progress to secure the bringing out of these valuable Crustacea from Britain by the steamers of the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company. The station is now quite ready to receive them and to rear fry in any quantity. The thanks of the society are due to the Railway Department, Union Steam Ship Company, and Huddart, Parker, and Co., for th« j car© and attention paid to anything committed I to their charge.

The statement of receipts and expenditure showed that the receipts, including £369 15s 8d balance from last year, were £■1843 8s lid, and the expenditure £1409 0s 9d, leaving a credit balance of £434 8s 2d.

Mr J. Edgar, treasurer, mentioned that while the money derived from fishing licenses this year was £1056 10s, in 1894 'rE was only £553. They would notice that in th« expenditure they had paid a great d«al for rangers in connection -with poaching. The assets had increased by £130. It was the largest year they had ever had. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of th« report and balance sh«e.t, referred to the anxiety the executive had felt during th© past year in preventing a good many practices that had become common. A good d«<al had been heard about poaohing at the mouth of the Water of Leith and in the upper harbour, and he might say that at the Conference of Acclimatisation Societies' held in Wellington in July last a successful effort was, made by the Otago delegates to induce the conference to approach the Government with a request that they might prohibit netting in the upper harbour. That was in view of Otago hav- | ing started hatching marine fishes, so as to form a sanctuary, and also to protect one of their most valuable streams for the procuring of spawn. However, so far nothing had been done, but it might b© possible to bring the matter up with better results next session. It might be well for those who, by buying netted fish encouraged the practice, to know that they made themselves liable to a pemalty for a breach of the law. Tthe council was also determined to use its funds for all such means as it had at its disposal to try and check all illicit practices in regard to fish, especially dynamiting and liming. Credit was given to the' country angling clubs for their watchfulness. The number of fish liberated this year— 1,235,000 fry— was very large, end hft supposed a record for the colony. A large number of two-year-old fish had also been liberated^ The owners of flaxmiUs, who it was thought wouldl be antagonistic to the society's proposals of last year, were to be thanked for the cordial manner in which I they ihad endeavoured to prevent refuse getting into the rivers. With regard to deer, the society had to deplore the death of Mr Blaokwood, wiho was instrumental on many occasions in sending them a number of stags and hinds, and who had also contributed to their funds in. money direct. Others, such as Mr Christie, of Victoria, had been very kind, and the executive hoped to be able to keep up the breed of red dee? sufficiently to give good sport to the deer-stalker. The great question continually before them was the destruction of game and fishes, but game particularly. In the report of last year there was a statement that Paradise ducks were- getting scarcer than ever, and it was advocated that a limit be placed on the numbed: one

man should be allowed to shoot in a season, and also that power should be obtained to mak-p a close season. No response to the conference's request to the Government in that direction was mad«<, , but only recently, however, a member of Parliament had succeeded in getting this • year proclaimed a close season, and it was hoped that when the associated societies met thi3 year in Wellington they would be able to extend this exemption from shooting. The Otago Society and others had been most anxious to preserve thei native wild fowl. With regard io larger game, 64- licenses had been issued for shooting fallow deer in the Blue Mountains, and it was feared by some that if each shootiet got four heads a mess would soon be made of the deer in those mountains. However, it wouid be for the new executive to consider the desirability of reducing the number of heads or decreasing the number of licenses that could be taken out. It really I would not matter very much if they were either to limit the number or raise the fees ; but probably the best plan would be to limit the number of heads, and so give a share to everybody. He might point out, while on the question of fees, that in South Africa, which used to teem with game, and still did, a license fee of £50 was required for shooting deer, and a £10 license was charged in Norway i& shoot a deer. Th«

excessive numbers of trout caught by individual parties of anglers in some of the lakes also required" serious consideration. In Canterbury it -was feared that the Government was going to take over the functions of the acclimatisation societies, but the Otago executive had no fear in that respect. They knew that the Government or the Tourist Department could not manage the work so cheaply. Hei believed that the Government had more sense than to take over the work, and Sir Joseph Ward wae too level-headed and too shrewd a man to disturb things wheai they were well and cheaply conducted. Mr P. Miller seconded the motion, and emphasised what the chairman had said with reference to the Government taking over the work of th© acclimatisation societies of the colony. It would be a retrograde step, and the fact thai; the cost of management was almost nil must weight with any Government. Every member of the different societies was a feport either in fishing or shooting, and these men took a greater interest' in acclimatisation matters than the Tourist Department or any Government officer could dk>. Referring to th© undue destruction of game, Mr Miller condemned the use of long-range guns, and also said it was a great pity stoats and weasels were protected. He was glad to know that the executive recognised the need for protecting- the Paradise duck. Mr A. E. Farquhar (Stirling) agreed that ground vermin were very destructive to the ducks, but thought they were even more destructive to the pukaki. The hawke, also, were a great source of trouble. Referring •to unnecessary killing, he insianceid two , men having shot 16 geese on Kaitangata Lake in one day. Bags should be limited, and he further advocated a gun license as a factor that would work for the preservation of game. Mr J. Richardson supported the adoption of a gun license, and agreed with what had been said about the desfcruotiveness to native- game by stoats and weasels, mentioning the fact that at Manapouri they had discovered a black swan killed on her nest by a weasel. The motion for the adoption of the report and balance sheet was agreed to without dissent. The three retiring members of the council, Messrs J. Edgar, G. M. Marshall, and R. Forrest, were re-elected. Mr A. C Begg was reappointed president, Messrs R. Chisliolm and T. Brown vicei-presidents, Mr D. Russell secretary, Mr J. Edgar treasurer, and Mr D. Crawford auditor. A vote of thanks was passed to the officials of the society — Messs Deans, Stevens, and Russell, — and to the chairman for presiding.