ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2691, 11 October 1905, Page 33

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Otago Acclimatisation Society was held in the society's offices on Friday afternoon. Present— -Messrs T. Brown (in the ohair), A. E. FaTquhar, C. W. Butterworth, Dr dei "Lautour, D. Barren, B. Forrest, S. MTDoriald, D~. Russ&ll, and the manager (Mr Deans). An apology was received from Mr C.! R. D. Richardson.

REPORTS.

The Manager (Mr F. Beans) reported for September that the principal , work for that month, had been attending to hatching operations. Some or- the levins will soon be iready- for- turning out, and arrangements might now be made for alloting them to -the various streams. A large ■ number of rainbow fry will be available for distribution this season, only about 60,000 ova of this variety having be&n disposed of. Complaints were received from anglers that flax mill and sawmill owners were nob carrying out the provisions of the act with reference to the polutton of streams, and Mr Steven was sent down to report on the fiaxmills in the Mokoreta Valley. His report was very satisfactory. Ranger Beck was sent down to .report re the sawmillere in the Catlins district, they having received notice from the eeeretary. The ranger was also visiting the various huts, and making some alterations, A pair of white swans had been secured at Kaikoura, and will arrive soon. A cock pheasant had been placed in the aviary in the Gardens. During the recent wet weather a large slip had taken place at Opoho. " This had gone into the creek, and the top was only 6ft from the end of the upper vace, part of which race may' have to be reclaimed. — The report was received.

James Steven, writing from the hatcheries at Clinton, tinder date 4th inst., stated that he had finished the work of stripping the last lot of rainbow trout last week, and that this concluded the collection of ova for the season. Since the last report two lots of brown trout ova had been sent to the hatcheries from Opoho, and this made the total of that variety dealt with here 569,000. From the. rainbow trout 220,000 ova have been procured. The other varieties are as follow: — Loehlevin, 196,000 ; Scotehburh, 98.000; eahnon, 25,000; making a total of 1,108,000. The Loehlevin, Scotchburn, and the greater number of brown trout ova have hatched out very successfully. During the past month four cases containing 63,000 rainbow ova have been exported to Hobart, Geelong, and Ballarat. Of that consignment 46,000 went from here, and 17,000 from Opoho.

In regard to procuring a pair of white swans, th& secretary stated that efforts had been made for a considerable time past to get some white ewans, but without success, and the pair now being procured from Kaikoura we<re obtained in accordance with instructions given by the council some time ago, and in compliance with the instructions of the chairman (Mr Edgar). — The Chairman said the matter was one of importance, as it involved the expenditure of a sum of £5 without the direct authority of the council, or without the council being consulted. — Mr Butterworth thought, as it was intended to place, the swans in the gardens, the corporation should be charged with the expense. The society was an acclimatising body and not an ornamental one. — The Chairman remarked that the society had been- let into a good deal of expense during "the time Mr Ohisholm was chairman, and the instruction to obtain white swans appeared to be a part of it. He had referred to the matter of purchasing the swans at £5 as an irregular proceeding, which did not strike him ac desirable. He thought all expenditure should be first authorised by the council. — After some further discussion on the same lines the subject was allowed to drop.

COEBESPOXDEXCE.

A. S. Malcolm. Kelso, wrote that at the annual general meeting of the local society held recently Mr Gco. Mowat was elected president and the writer secretary. — It was decided to admit deer-stalkers to membership, and a definite statement was desired as to the amount the O.A. Society would be willing to place at the Kelso Society's disposal for employment of a ranger, preventing poaching, and for the destruction of §hag«. It was felt that £100

a year at least would be needed. The work would then be well done under the best local supervision, as much concern was feit in Kelso at the illegal and ruthless destruction ot game and fish. The writer also asked if tuey ana otlwr associations couki send delegates, with power of voting to the society s monthly meetings. The Chairman said the letter was too important to be dealt with off-hand, and suggested that it be referred to the Executive Committee to bring up a report on Mr Malcolm's letter. — This was agreed to. The secretary of the Wyntlham Angler's Sociftv wrote offering £1 Is for privilege of having control or the fisherman's hut on the Mimihau River for ensuing season, on condition that all moneys received as rent of hut be exclusively u;ed in payment to clear the banks of the river, and keeping the hut in lepair. It was thought the proposal would be the most equitable way of raising money to keep the banks clear, and so give better access to favourite fts'ning spote, as something must be done each year to prevent the spread of broom. — The letter was referred to the Executive Committee with a suggestion that the Wyndham Sccitey be granted one-fourth of the income for the hut, in consideration of its taking care of it, but giving it no control of same, the other three-fourths to be spent as suggested in the letter in clearing the banks of the river.

The Government Insurance Department wrote asking for the loan of a cock pheasant for change of blood, and promising one cock bird next season. — It was resolved to comply with the request, as Mr Deans said there was a bird available.

The Nelson Acclimatisation Society requested to be supplied with some fallow deer, intimating that they would take any number not exceeding 20, at a price not exceeding £3 each. The deer were needed to s stock parts of the Nelson district not at present containing deer. — Resolved that, as the deer available were not numerous, six should be exchanged with the Nelson Society. A. C. Begg. writing from Edinburgh under date July 30, 1905, enclosed a clipping from the Field about owls and their habits. The extract, the writer stated, showed that owls destroyed large numbers of small birds, rats, and mice, and for the purpose of keeping these in check they were very useful. Mr Begg stated that it would be very ' difficult to procure barn owls in England, as they were protected by law, but Mr Costang, of Leadenhall Market, informed him that a smaller bird (the little owl) was fully as good for the purpose, and could be procured in numbers from the Continent for about 5s each. He (Mr Be°rer) had written to the Agent-general on the subject, and the writer hoped an arranpement would be made for importing some of the little owls, as he fc!t confident that some natural enemy, such as the owl referred to, was the only effectual solution of the small-bird pest. When in Norway a few weeks previously he noticed large numbers of magpies, which also preyed on tlie small birds, and kept them very scarce. The magpie, however, was not, like the owl, a nocturnal bird, but hunted during the day, and was guilty of stealing young chickens. Small birds "were so scarce in Norway that the farmers and cottars put up wooden boxes in the eaves of their houses for the small" birds to breed in. Mr Begg added that while in Norway he had some good salmon fishing —The letter was received.

P. J. M'Carthy, secretary of the newlyformed Hawea D-eer-stalking Association, wrote setting out the steps it was intended to take to further the interests of deer-stalking in Hawea Lake dieirict. The association desired to know what powers the society was prepared to confer on the association. — The Chairman, referring to the communication, said deer had been found Iving dead in the district, and they had evidently been shot out of season. — The letter was remitted to tha executive for consideration.

The Secretary intimated that in compliance with a request the Otago Education Board had issued a circular to the head masters of country schols, asking them to draw the attention of pupils to troutpoaching by schoolboy?, and to point out that stich prictice was illegal, and that the offenders were liable to prosecution. — It was decided to thank the Education Department for Its action in the matter.

Accounts amounting to £38 were passed for payment.