OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 5

OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING. rhe monthly meeting of the council of the OtagO-Acclimatisation Society was held on July 25, and was attended by Messrs (J. P. Al. Butterworth (in the chair), G. E. Turner, S. F. Aburn, R. B. Tennent, J. Hutchison, G. Howes, H. G. Williams, A. Cowie, 11. Dodgshun, J. H. Stewart, W. G. Heid, A. J. White, and H. M’Dowell GAME COMMITTEE’S REPORT. . The Game Committee reported that a circular had been received from the Department of Internal Affairs giving details of the seasons for trapping opossums in the various acclimatisation districts, and stating that trappers might retain their skins unstamped for one month from the closing date of the open season. -The department had further advised that the Minister of Internal Affairs had ordered that the guns recently seized from Messrs . Donald and Gill be sold.—The commobeen received, and Messrs v D° na ld aud Gill had been notified that the guns had been confiscated. The department also thanked the society for the paradise duck sent to Mr Robert DorrienSmith, Scilly Islands. —Advice was also received from the department that the Minister was unable to approve of the society’s proposal to charge overseas visitors a higher rate for deer-stalking than was paid by the residents of the Dominion. The committee further reported that it had decided not to accept the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society’s offer of 100 pheasants at £1 per head, and that it had notified the society that it had decided to accept a lower offer. The committee had received an offer from Mr James Dobson, Pokeno, of any number oi pheasants up to 1000 at 12s each, and Vr W r> s decided to spend £5O on pheasants. Mr R. Muir had objected to the bringing in of the whole tails of deer as trophies of the animals shot, and stated that he preferred to deal with the society for the deerskins he secured. A reply had been sent insisting on the whole tails being produced, this reply beinjr approved. Mr C. Overton had written asking for permission to catch quail in the Clyde district instead of at Roxburgh. The society recommended that he be informed that the birds must be trapped under the supervision of Mr Cockburn, the honorary ranger. Mr George Webb had written asking for some quail for liberation on his property at Taioma, and it was recommended that the society write to Mr Webb offering to supply some birds when available on condition that he allowed licenseholders to shoot on his property. The committee also recommended that a permit be granted to Mr G. Eaton, Waitahnna, to take tip to one dozen swans’ eggs from Lake Kaitangata up to a given date. The report was adopted. ANGLING COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The Angling Committee reported that tne manager’s report had been received and recommended that the orders received for brown trout eyed ova, totallin ,r I, be filled in full: that Pellett be instructed to procure up to one million rainbow trout eggs at Timaru Creek; that Claringbold’s suggestion that the boxes in the hatchery be made a uniform size, be approved ; that the number of fish that may be taken per day bv anglers remain as at present, and that four extra cans for the distribution of fry be ordered. The secretary of the Marine Department had written asking that anglers and fishermen should furnish information regarding any salmon tagged with a metal fish mark taken during next season. This letter was received, as also was a further communication from the department asking that further details in connection with its request that netting at the mouths of rivere be prohibited during the months of April, May, and June. The secretary • o’Auckland Society had written ordering 2000 brown trout ova for Samoa. The letter was received and the committee i ecommended that the Auckland Society be asked to increase the order to 25.000. and also if rainbow ova would do if brown could not be siumlied. a suggestion from the secretary "of the Westland Society that some fry be put m the upper reaches of the Haast River, the committee recommended that 10 000 fry be supplied free of cost if the Westland Society would arrange for the distribution of the fish. Information as to the run ot whitebait in the Shag River had been requested, and the committee recommended that Messrs T. Pickett and J. Al Ritchie be written to for information regarding whitebait. The Howietown and Northern Fisheries. Stirling, Scotland, had advised that the box of e°gs they sent the society were taken from their own salmon fario spawners. The committee recommended that the box be returned with 15,000 eggs for the Blagdon Hatchery, and that the society intimate that it would be nleased to receive a Blnoment of Blagdon eggs. The report was adopted. GENERAL.

. T t. wa s agreed thafc Mr Charles Stronach, of Ettrick, be loaned three pair of chekkor for breeding purposes, the society to purchase progeny at £1 per head. It was decided that Mrs E. F. Bissett be appointed an agent for the society at Kaitangata. The Finance Committee reported that accounts amounting to £4B 17s 9d had been passed for payment. Mr R. Gould, Amuri, wrote asking that the society supply him with some quail to liberate on his sheep station.—lt was decided to inform Mr Gould that the society was unable to supply the birds