ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3782, 7 September 1926, Page 79

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Tho monthly meeting of the council of the Otago Acclimatisation Society was held in the secretary's office last week, Mr C. P. M. Butterworth presiding. A petition was received from Mr E, Frame and 25 others protesting against the proposal to limit fishing in the Shag River to fly-fishing. The petition pointed out that a great number of anglers used small trout and whitebait in this river, and were as much entitled to consideration as the fly-fisher.—Mr C. A. Wilson thought this matter should be cleared up a little. There was a comparatively small attendance at last meeting of the council, when the matter was brought up, and on tnat account it was decided to postpone consideration till the present meeting. Personally, he was opposed to the proposal.—Mr Cowie said he favoured tho proposal.—Mr Williams said ho was opposed to tho proposal, which he considered a drastic step. Over 712,000 trout had been put in the stream during the past 25 years. He thought it was a matter which should be dealt with at the annual meeting.—Mr J. R. Wilson thought there was no harm in Mr Cowie bringing forward his proposal at the last meeting. Personally. he was opposed to the proposal.—Mr C. Wilson moved that no action be taken regarding the restriction of bait on the Shag River. This was seconded by Mr G. Howes and carried. GAME COMMITTEE S REPORT. The Game Committee reported that the Minister of Internal Affairs wrote on August 6, acknowledging receipt of letter giving information about the deer-culling done by the society.—Received. He had enclosed permits to send two pairs of paradise duck to Robert Dorrien Smith, Scilly Islands, Cornwall. The Minister also wrote enclosing a permit to take two paradise duck to be forwarded to Hawke’s Bay. The Department of Internal Affairs wrote giving the society authority to sell opossum skins seized by the ranger, aud saying that the matter of the liberation of opossums was being further considered. The Zoological Gardens, Alipore, Calcutta, w rote stating that they would be unable to ship any more ciiuckor before September at the earliest. —Received. Mr R. Cockburn, Roxburgh, wrote making suggestions with regard to game birds he considered suitable for his district. To be advised that the council had no chuekor to spare at present. Mr R. Acton-Adams asked if he could get any chuckor. To be informed that the council had no chuckor to spare at present. On the recommendation of Mr J. Tait (Mosgieli, Mr M. Barratt, Mosgiel, was appointed an hon. ranger. It was decided that the stalking season commence on March 24 and close on April 24, 1927. The ballot for next season resulted in the followijg stalkers obtaining blocks: —Block 13. S. A. Stevens and friend; block 14, Jas. M'Arthur and friend; block 15, E. Farrow and party; block 16, C. Templeton and party; block 30, C. Baker and party; blocks 31 and 32, G. Williams and party; block 33, H. W. and C. N. Harvey; block 34, W. G. Reid and friend; block 35. J. R. Wilson and friend; block 35a, T. Cockburn and friend; block 36, J. Hungerford. Blocks not taken to be offered to unsuccessful applicants. General Pigot to have the option over blocks 17 and 18. —The report was adopted. ANGLING COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The Angling Committee recommended that action be taken against the sawmillers allowing sawdust to get into the streams in the Catlins district. Mr W. Ford, Pembroke, w rote asking how many brow n and rainbow trout eggs were to be hatched. —To be advised to hatch out the 40,000 eggs for the Lindis. Mr Ford to be asked to get up to 1,000,000 rainbow eggs if possible. Mr H. E. Stevens (Clyde) asked for a donation to repair the society’s hut on the Fraser River.—lt was recommended to guarantee the cost up to £3. The hon. secretary of the Otago Anglers’ Association wrote enclosing a resolution protesting against the proposal to make the Shag River a fly and minnow stream only. Mr H. Barker (Pembroke) wrote asking for some young fish for the upper reaches of Luggate stream.—The secretary to advise that some Scoteliburn trout had already been allocated. The Secretary of the Bruce Angling Club made a request for 500 perch for a lagoon near Coombe Bay.—lt was suggested that the club catch some at Lake Waihola or Contour channel in the fishing season. The District Engineer of the Public Works Department (Dunedin) wrote regarding the application of Messrs Craw and M'lntosh, of Chatto Creek, for permission to place a boat on Manor burn dam, to be used for angling purposes. — Received. It was decided to recommend that the request be agreed to. The Secretary of the Wyndhani Anglers’ Association wrote regarding the gorse and broom on Mr Stirling’s property at South Wyndham.—lt was agreed to allow the Wyndhom Anglers’ Association £lO towards the cost of clearing the gorse, etc., on the Wyndham River. It was resolved. that two eel traps be sent to the Teviot Angling Club, Roxburgh, on the usual conditions, and that the club be granted permission to sell licenses. — The report was adopted. RESOLUTIONS. It was resolved to apply to the Minister of Internal Affairs for a permit to procure 200 Mallard duck from Waikouaiti lagoon for distribution next season in other parts of the Otago district. With regard to planting willow's on the foreshore of Lake Hawea, the society wrote to Mr D. Urquhart asking for an estimate of the cost. Mr Urquhart, in reply, stated that the total cost would be £66. —It was resolved that Mr Urquhart be authorised to spend £65 on the work. On the motion of Mr Dodshun, it was resolved that 12 eel traps be provided on the Waikouaiti and Shag Rivers, and that tiie rangers pay special attention to these traps.—The resolution was seconded by Mr J. R. Wilson, and carried unanimously.