THIRD EDITION ACCLIMATISATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17235, 15 April 1930, Page 11

THIRD EDITION ACCLIMATISATION

SOCIETY’S ANNUAL REPORT DEFICIT LAST YEAR In the.report to he submitted to the annual meeting oi' the Last Coast Acclimatisation !>ociety the executive council reveals that a substantial deficit occurred last year, the expenditure exceeding the income by £IOO. It is pointed out in the paragraph dealing with finance, however, that this dencit is not regarded as a„ serious matter, since tlm aim of the society is to keep the country and rivers stocked with game and fish, and so maintain the interest of sportsmen. Last year's excess of expenditure over income was about the same as in the previous year, and doubtless will be made up for in years when .stocking does not absorb so great a proportion oi the society’s funds. There is in the hands of I he council at present cash assets which exceed the liabilities of the society by £llls. A good revenue source is the opos-sum-trapping business, front which the society receives a substantial proportion of its general income. Last year over 5000 skins were stamped in Gisborne, all of which were taken in the least Coast society’s district. Oil the other hand, the purchase of trout ova and game birds has taken a great deal of money, 1 and in addition the organisation has financed the instruction of two enthusiasts in some of the liner points of hatching the fry, these members visiting Rotorua for the purpose. This experiment is covered in paragraphs of the report tinder the heading of “Fishing.” which state:—• FISHING “In order to further the activities of this branch of the society’s work, the council decided to ask Messrs. Roberts and Morice —our younger members, who have been doing the hatching for us during the past few years—to visit the Rotorua hatcheries ' for instructional purposes, and from reports received front the members the expense incurred has been amply justified. Under the guidance of Captain Yerex’s assistants, these members learned many points that will be of service to them in their future work of hatching and liberating. “This year, again, ICO,COO fry were liberated,'so,ooo in the Wharekopae and 50,000 in the Hangaroa. It is extremely pleasing to note that after many years of hard work some reward is forthcoming. The catches from both the Wharekopae and the Hangaroa have been extremely good this season, six and seven pounders being often caught in the Wharekopae, and four to five pounders in the Hangaroa and Ruakituri Rivers. Your council is firmly of the opinion that really good fishing is obtainable in our local waters, and appeals to all anglers to give the local waters a trial before going further afield, with consequent loss of revenue to this society. “The work of Messrs. Roberts and Morice Bros, is specially deserving of mention, and your council extends to them its warmest thanks for their splendid work. IMPROVING THF. SHOOTING ... Referring to the endeavors of the A society to improve the shooting in this tile report includes (lie follow ■ ing observations / “The last season proved lo le a normally good one. both for pheasants and duck. The latter are apparently be coming more and more scarce, and

bags are becoming smaller. Tho matter of restocking in this direction is one that calls for serious consideration. The shooting waters of the district are extremely limited in this aspect of the society’s work, but nevertheless it is desirable that any steps that can be taken to increase the number of birds should be given consideration by the incoming council. “With quail, also, to a- certain extent, the same remarks apply. Your council has again approached the Internal Affairs Department, with a view to getting importations of quail from Norfolk Island, hut unfortunately the department has again vetoed the suggestion. Inquiries have been made also throughout New Zealand tor tresli supplies, hut. so far the effort- has been result: less. “Regarding pheasants, your council has to the end of February, 1959. liberated just over 500 voting birds, at least 350 of which, it is pleasing to note, have been fired locally. Llie only outside importation was a hutch ol 150 strong and healthy birds from Auckland. Your council hopes in the future. now that- breeding is successfully established locally that all the society’s requirements will he catered for m our own district. “An interesting point to note is that in distributing the Auckland birds it was observed that they were of a stronger and larger type than the local birds, apparently due ti> the warmer climate of the north, and that if the societv is to depend on local birds lor the future requirements it will he necessary to accept from breeders only birds of sufficient size for liberation, and on no account- will birds be taken for liberation after the end ol I‘ebruary. “Your council has also given close attention to tho matter ol liberation of tho voung birds this season, and whereas for several years the back country has been liberally served in the. matter ol distribution, ‘ this year an alternative distribution has been made round tar lower foothills, so that there should hi very good sport available to both classes of our members—town and country without either having to proceed air great distance. “Your council litis also publicly approached property owners to allow reasonable shooting on their properties, but at the same time complaints are still received from property owners of wanton destruction, not only, to their properly, hut- also of tlie quite unreasonable. shooting ot turkeys. Your council appeals to all sportsmen to re spect- the courtesy extended to them 1v property owners in this respect.