ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Otago Witness, Issue 3029, 3 April 1912, Page 64

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

A meeting- of the council of the Otago Acclimatisation Society wa.s held on March 6i, ami was attended by Messrs G. W. M'ln tosh (president), A. E. Jenkins, A. t'owie, R. Brinsley. R. Rutherford, J. R. Wilson, E. Oglivie, A. M'Carthy, 13. RusBell (secretary), and F. Deans (manager). The President referred to tho subject of netting inside the mouths of rivers, and said people netted for indigenous fish, and the judge had ruled that there was nothing to prevent them doing that. What was wanted was an amendment of tho act. The subject was passed without anything being decided upon. Tlie following report was submitted by Mr F. Deans: '"The fish are now all liberated, and as this, month closes the year's operations I have prepared and attached a list showing where the fry from the Opoho hatchery have been placed; also a list showing tho number of yearlings received from the Clinton hatchery, and placed in various waters around Dunedin. The total number of fry turned out from both hatcheries is 1,562,500, and 22,150 yearlings have also been liberated. In distributing the fry, Mr M'C'onnochie (St. Bathans), Mr G. A. Reade (Castle Hill), and Mr Elliott (Mount Ross) rendered considerable assistance by taking charge of a number of the fry and liberating them in various streams in their respective districts. As instructed, I placed one of the crossbred cock pheasants in the Botanical Gardens, and also 10 mallards, from Clinton, in one of the ponds there. The birds now at the Gpoho hatchery consist of 4 golden pheasants, 3 diamond pheasants, 2 erossbreds, 18 young English pheasants, 17 voting golden and diamond pheasants, 1 pair American wood ducks, 2 mandarin drakes, 3 mallards, and 2 Indian pigeons." Tho distribution of yearlings during 1911 has been :—Waitati —Blagdon trout, 500; Water of Leith—Loch Leven, 1000; Blagdon trout, 500. Tomahawk Lagoon —Rainbow trout. 500. Leith Valley ReservoirRainbow trout, 1000. Silverstream—- Loch Leven, 600; Rainbow trout, 400. Silverttream—Loch Leven, 1000. Fry fiiom Opoho, numbering 220,500 brown trout, 96,000 Loch Leven, 73,000 Blagdon, 29,500 Rainbow, and 8000 Brook trout, have been liberated in various Otago streams. Mr Brinsley said it was only a murdering policy to put anything into tho Tomahawk Lagoon. It was simply a stagnant pool. If they had anything to spare they should be put into Lake Logan. —Mr Deans said when the fish had been seen to turn up they had not put any more in.—Mr Russell said Mr Matthewson had suggested thai perch should bu again liberated in the lagoon.-- Mr Brinsley: I am with you there. —The President remarked that some very good rainbow trout had been taken from tho lagoon. —Mr Wilson suggested that a vote of thanks should be passed to Mr Deans for tho valuable work ho had dono during the past season, and this was agreed to.—Mr Rutherford mentioned that small fish were plentiful in Fulton's Creek. —The report was approved. Mr Stevens's report, of which the following is a summary, was approved; letters of thanks to be sent, to the gentlemen who had given assistance:—" The new pond, as far as the dividing concrete wall, new inlet, and outlet, are concerned, is finished, and the pond stocked with 50,000 brown trout fry. I might point out that some further work will l>e required in connection with this pond in the way of raising the hanks to a 3 near as iwssiblo a uniform height above the water line. The planting of some native shrubs and plants about this pond would, I think, improve its appearance, and in some measure its usefulness. I delivered some 2500 rainbow fry at Lake Luella. Waipori, on Tuesday, in comparatively good order. I also delivered at WaiKaia on the 6th inst. 3000 Loch Leven fry for the Upper Dome Creek. I have not vet heard how they survived tho journey. Tho total number of fry distributed during the past season was 1.156,000, and 22,150 yearlings. In my last report 1 stated that 20 mallard ducks had been taken by Mr James Begg and liberated in the Upper Wvndham. I have since sent 34 to Lake VVaihola, and 10 crossbreds to Dunedin, leaving still in stock 28. 2 Canadian geese, and 22 pheasants, which are all m a healthy and thriving condition." The' following were the principal clauses in the Game and Deer Committee s report: •■ \ letter was received from Mi* fcamuel Johns stating that he had been informed that the council was applying for a now ranger for the deor country, and setting forth his claims to tho position. Tho secretary was instructed to inform Mr Johns that ht was under a misapprehension in thinking that the society was applying for a new ranger. A report was received from the Hawea Committee inviting suggestions in dealing with the deer culling. This

report nad been referred to a special committee mooting. A letter was received from the Minister of Internal Affairs stating tli.it the matter of an open toason f-n----shooting? paradise ducks would bo considered in due lune. It' was resolved that (.he president wire the Minister pressing for an immediate reply to the society s request to open t.he seaeoo. A letter diuod February 23 was received from the Minister of Internal Affairs referring to the opening- season for fallow deer. The terms of tins letier not being satisfactory to the president, he wrote a remonstrance to the Minister, who finally agreed to his proposal that the scuson for shooting fallow deer l>e open from April 10 until Ma\ 15 inclusive The Minister of Internal AfFaiis wrote informing the council that the department agreed to the recommendation of the council to open that, district, in the deer country that had been for many \ears closed, arid forwarded a copy of the Gazette notice referring lo this matter. A letter was received from Messrs Smith Brcs., Owaka. asking the society to declare an open season for opossums. —It was resolved, on the 'notion of Mr Rutherford. that this council be recommended to request the Minister of Internal Affairs fo declare an open season for shooting and trapping opossums, the season to commence en May 1 and end on July 31.—Approved. There was no Angling Committee's report presented, but the president, the committee, and Mr Deans wore empowered to put a fish-trap in the 1.-eit.h, near the University. The Financo Committee recommended

that Mr Stevens's salary be increased by £lO a year, arid reported that tho total funds in the bank amounted to £785 Is lid, and that the secretary stated that there was between £2OO and £3OO to come in from .-genus for licenses. A number of accounts were recommended for payment. —■ The recommendation for an indorse to Mr Stevens was negatived, and tiie remainder of the requests approved. The President submitted regulations lie had drafted as to tho opening- of a season for opossums, the suggested season being- from May 1 to .Tidy 31. —Tt was resolved that the regulations be forwarded to the Minister of Internal Affairs for approval.