OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3714, 19 May 1925, Page 7

OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The fifty-ninth annual meeting of the Otago Acclimatisation Society was held on the 11th. Mr C. P. M. Butter worth (president) occupied the chair, and there was a fairly numerous attendance of members. The President moved the adoption of the report and balance sheet, and, in doing so, said that with regard to the past year the council could claim that it had maintained the activities of the society, and done a little work that mignt pave trie way to something further and better. In some quarters such societies had got the name of rod and gun clubs, but angling and gun clubs had their own sphere of work, and the society had its spnere. He was glad to say that the Otago Society was imbued with a spirit of acclimatisation. When it had come to a decision antagonistic to the sportsman’s interests it had been due to a desire to protect sport in the future. The society, in his opinion, was doing a great public work. The financial position of the society was exceedingly satisfactory. The revenue had been well maintained, and they had finished up with a surplus of £699. It was pleasing to see the increase in fishing licenses, and it had to bo remembered that each new license-holder automatically became a ranger, so that the society's interests were well looked after. There was also an increase in opossum licenses, and indications showed that there must be a great number of skins taken that did not go through the proper channel. A great many shipped were said to have been concealed in rabbitskin bales, and some were sold locally without being stamped. Figuros recently received went to show that the total number trapped last year was 95,000. The rangers’ reports were very satisfactory, and stated that the forests were filled with opossums. Two dead doer had been found, and it was a question whether any poison had been laid to destroy opossums. The Forestry Department had been written to in the matter, asking for its assistance. At the Clinton hatchery matters had proceeded satisfactorily during tho year. The number of eggs collected last year was not so satisfactory as it might have been, and with a good market they had not been able to supply as many as they would have liked. The new trap in tho Leith was in position, and it looked as if it were going to be a Kuocess, and it was intended to trap the Pomahaka and Mimihau, as well a 9 the Mntaura and Mnroroa. A river that hod been yielding well to the angler and giving nromise for the future was the Waipori. The discontinuance of sluicing in the upper portion had tesulted in the water gradually Hearing, and there should be some very fino fly-fishing there. It regard to deer they had persevered in cuffing, and some good heads had been obtained this year. They proposed to continue culling with a little more care. Speaking of native bird life, the president said they had to contend with stoats and weasels. He thought the society should persevere in its efforts to get the protection removed from those parts where he country was not infested with rabbits. They must try to induce the Government to withdraw protection wh6re there were opossum forests. They required to kill out the stoats and wearies which were increasing while

the bird life was decreasing. A new work was an attempt to introduce chikor, and there was a proposal to unite in this direction. There was a number of angling clubs in existence, and these were very good friends to the society. He was pleased that ther© was an inclination to form more of these, and they should be assisted. Mr R. Conn seconded the motion. Mr J. A. Roberta drew attention to the fact that 2281 licenses had been issued, and that only a small sum had been received for membership subscriptions, and said it was rather disappointing that people would not pay 10s a year to support the society. He thought steps should be taken to induce license holders to become members. The stoats had been killed out, and it was the weasels that were doing the damage. On the West Coast there was hardly a sign of bird life, and weasels were plentiful there. In reply to Mr Conn. Mr Roberts said he did not think the weasels kept the rabbits down Mr Whitelaw said strychnine had a good deal to do with birds being poisoned in the forests. He thought it was strychnine that was killing the opossums. Air C. A. Wilson said that now they were fairly well off for funds, he thought the time had arrived when they should extend their operations in the direction o r introducing now fish and birds. There wero stretches of water practically without trout, and the black bass would thrive in such water as that found in the upper portion of the Waikouaiti River. He did not, however, want to run any other fish against trout, but he thought it was a pity they should have so much waste water. He thought they would find it was stoats, not weasels, that had caused the damage of which Mr Roberts had been speaking. Mr Begg said it was felt that there was hardly enough being done by the society to catch the poacher of opossums. While the society was in funds something more might be done to suppress poaching. The motion was then carried. Mr Neill said that the absence of the pheasant had been caused by the efforts of the farmer to poison the rabbit. If the rabbit could be got rid of they could establish tho pheasant and the partridge. Speaking of the introduction of shrimps for fish food, he said the natural existing food was being eaten out. The societv might consider the best methods of providing food for fish and game. Mr Finlay said that in the goldfields district a great, deal of poaching was being done -by the use of dynamite. The following office-bearers were appointed:—President, Mr C. P. M. Butterworth ; vice-presidents, Mosers R. Conn and R. Rutherford; auditors, Messrs Smith and Moodie; members of council—Alessrs S. F. M>urn, C. Baker, J. Hutchison. J. H. Stewart, G. E. Turner, and C. A Wilson Mr J. Faulks, of Wanaka, was elected an associate member the society.