ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2700, 13 December 1905, Page 32

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The monthly meeting of the Acclimatisation Society held on Friday afternoon, was attended by Messrs R. Chisholm (chairman), C. R. Richardson. J. Sinclair Thomson, J. Edgar, T. Brown, R. Forrest, S. M'Donald, D. Russell (secretary), and F. Deans (manager). Mr A. E. Farquhar sent an apology for absence. Mr F. Deans reported that the distribution of fish was in full swing at both hatcheries. There was so large a number of fry and yearlings to turn out that it would take considerable time to get them all out. In In addition to the first allotment of yearlings, 500 rainbow trout were put in the Waikouaiti River and 500 in the Shag. There were still about 1000 on hand, and he would recommend that 500 bo put in the Tomahawk Lagoon, and the remainder in the Waipahi. The report from Mr Steven was to hand for the past month, but he was working at high pressure, and was handicapped for want of a horse. Ranger M'Lay was doing good work among the shags and eels. He found a shaggery on the upper waters of the Waikouaiti, and destroyed it, killing nine shags. Ranger Beck was also keeping an eye on anglers and nettors, One man wag fined rgcentiz fou

taking undersized fihh. and other cases wore pendma. As instructed, ho isitcd a flax mill at. Romahapa. and had much pleasure in reporting that he found everything- in a very °alisfa'ctory condition.— The report was re-reived and approved. It '.\n.« rpsolvpd :— " That the secretary bo instructed to write to the Go\ eminent, asking, under section 6 of " The Animals Protection Amendment Act. 1903," that stoats and woa^pH may bo killed within the Otag"o Acclimatisation Society's district, as they havo proved to be the enemies of game and poultry, which the society thinks in the host interests of the country require preserving and protecting more than stoats and weasels. "' The Rev. Mr Ponder wrote expressing an opinion that the council should differentiate between the size of the trout to be caught in small streams and those taken from larger onos.— Resolved— " That Mr Ponder be thanked for the interest he has evinced in the matter, and be informed that the Order in Council provides 9in. as the standard size, and that the council regrets it can not sec its way to make any recommendation to the Governor in Council on the subject at present." The council wont into committee to _ consider the report of the Rangers Committee, and decided to prosecute in several cases, ss recommended. Wages, amounting to £10 11s 9d, were passed for payment. rii VSERVATION OF BIRD LIFE. Dr Fulton was present at the request of the Otago Institute, before whom he had brought the matter of the desirability of having (in particular) the wood pigeonshooting season altered. He said it vas evident that these pigeons bred at the end of the winter and nearly in spring, \coen the shootina" season was on. Rome of the Catlins residents had expressed themselves strongly in the matter, and said it would only "be a short time before these birds weie extinct. Personally, he thought that there might well be a prohibition altogether of the shooting of pigeons or a close season for several years. He was sure a change of the season would appeal to everyone. The secretary read a number of letters from Catlins residents, giving details as to the time of the pigeon breeding season, which bore out Dr Fulton's contention. The Chairman said the matter in all its scope was one the society took much interest in, and he endorsed Dr_ Fulton's remarks as to the necessity for action. During a recent trip down to the Catlins district with the Minister of Railways his attention was drawn to the matter, and both ho and the Minister of Public Works expressed surorise at the absence of birds as they travelled through the bush, and suggested that if the societies interested made .some recommendation it would be reasonable for the Government to tate some steps to protect thee birds. Tuis had been protected, and why should other birds not be also protected. Mr Richardson remarked that he had iust been throutrh Catlins from one end to tho other, and through bush nearly all the way. and on tho whole trip he only counted 11 picreons. A few years ago flocks of them were to bo seen. Severel of the settlors had coronlained bitterly of the action of shooters in shooting simply for a bag. Mr Brown complained that what was pronosed had been asked for again and again by the societies, but their representations had been ignored for the most part. The- making of bags was tho worst trouble, and in America the necessity for limiting bas-s had been recognised, and drastic reerulations were in forcp. In his opinion the whole matter should be threshed out, and he would move — " That a committee be appointed to take into consideration the whole question of the preservation of native game, and to l-eport. and that Dunedin and district parliamentary members be asked to attend the meeting at which the report is presented." The motion was carried, and it was i*esohpd that the committee consist of Messrs Chisholm, Brown. Edgar, and Richardson, and that Dr Fulton be associated with these gentlemen on the committee.