ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 15

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Executive Council of the Otago Acclimatisation Society was held last night in the board room of the secretary (Air R. tion Society was held last week in the chair, and there were also present Alessrs C. A. Wilson, H. ATDowall Smith, R. Rutherford, G. Porter, S. F. Aburn, H. G. Williams, T. Long, G. E. Turner, A. J. White, S. Cousins, and W. T. Henaghan.

GAME COMAIITTEE.

The Game Committee’s reports was as follows:—

The Department of Internal Affairs wrote regarding the shooting of deer and an open season for opossums, and giving the Minister’s comments and decisions on the remits passed at' the recent conference of delegates of acclimatisation societies.—Received.

The New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies’ Association wrote saying that Professor Kirk had arranged to make an inquiry into the question of the damage, if any, done to the forests or to the native birds by opossums.—Received. Air A. D. Kitto, Brunswick Rural, wrote regarding the shooting of red deer stags.—The committee recommended that the stalkers be notified that they were to take the number of stags they had tags for, and that it was decided that they should shoot malformed stags and hinds, but not young stags. Air J. Buckley, Hawea Flat, wrote regarding the quail, pukeko, and other birds in the Hawea district, and recommending that the pukeko in that district should be protected for a few years.— Received.

_ The New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society wrote regarding the issuing of a poster giving a list of protected birds.—Received.

Air J. R. Thomson, Queensberry Hills, Cromwell, wrote suggesting that grey ducks on the lagoons on section 34, Tarras Survey District, should be protected. lhe letter was received, and it was decided to ask Ranger Pellett to report on the matter.

The committee recommended that the secretary should write to the Alinister of Internal Affairs (Air P. A. de la Perrelle) for permission to shoot out some of the swans on the Waikouaiti Lagoon on account of their being too numerous. ANGLING COAIAHTTEE.-

The Angling Committee’s report stated that Ranger Pellett’s report had been received, and it recommended that some brown trout fry should be liberated in Inder’s dam, near Naseby. Ranger Campbell’s report and correspondence , regarding netting limits on the Catlin’s River had been received. The secretary of the Alarine Department, Wellington, had written saying that the chief inspector of fisheries would visit Catlins regarding the area for netting on the Catlin’s River.—Alessrs Wratten and Crews were to be informed that they must not net in the Catlin’s Estuary next year, and would be advised where they might net.

The Secretary of the Marine Department also wrote saying he could find no record of any permission having been given by the late chief inspector of fisheries for fishermen to net for trout in the Catlins up to within half a mile of the present netting limits for indigenous fish.—Received. °

The Alinister of Internal Affairs forwarded comments and decisions on the remits adopted by the Acclimatisation Societies’ Conference.—Received. The State Forest Service, Ranfurly wrote regarding the trees planted near Alanorburn dam.—Received. . Air Andrew Hislop, Benhar, wrote saying that the fishing in the Molyneux River had been good this season", and asking to be remembered when youn" fish were being liberated this year.— Received.

The superintendent, Mercantile Alarine, Dunedin, wrote saying he would type on the trout netting license forms next year the netting limits in the Catlins.—Received.

Mr R. Kinnaird, Alexandra, wrote advsing that some young trout had been shifted from pools in the Lower Fraser (which was nearly dry) .—lt was decided to thank.Alr Kinnaird for his report, and to ask him to get some scrim and bolts to help to save the fish.

With regard to the Alanorburn dam, the committee recommended that some rainbow eyed ova should be procured from the Government hatchery at Tokaanu and the fry liberated in the dam. CORRESPONDENCE. Air Proudfoot, of Balclutha, wrote asking for permission to keep two pukeko given to him by Air T. Telford, of Otanomomo. —As it was considered necessary for Mr Proudfoot to have permission from the Alinister of Internal Affairs, the secretary was instructed to write asking permission on his behalf. Ranger Campbell submitted a list of men convicted of breaches of the regulations during the past season, and recommended that only one of them should not be debarred from having a license next season.—lt was decided to follow the custom of the society and debar the convicted men from obtaining licenses. GENERAL. It was decided that Mr C. A. Wilson should go with Ranger Pellett to inspect the Alill Creek (Waipori) with a view

to putting in two traps, one for brown trout and one for rainbow trout. Air G. Porter was elected a member of the executive in place of Air A. Cowie, who had been lost by death. Accounts amounting to £251 Is 6d were passed for payment. Alessrs Long, Hutchison, and Williams were appointed to meet Ranger Campbell on a suitable date and inspect the Catlins district.

It was decided that the season for trapping opossums should be the same this year as last—June 1-30. '