ACCLIMATISATION

Southland Times, Issue 18938, 11 May 1923, Page 10

ACCLIMATISATION

MONTHLY MEETING OF SOCIETY'. The monthly meeting of the Southland Acclimatisation Society was held Wednesday there being present Mr A. H. Stock (chairman.! and Messrs Stephens, Collins. Robert•on, Keast, Butler, Strang. McNaughton, M atson, Crofts, Tapper, Sloan, Pattie, Traylor, Dr. Crawford and Captain Weir. Mr R. J. Barton reported on the trip made by him and Mr Moore to Manapouri in search of deer. They had spent a month in the district, Mr Moore getting heads carding 15, 13, 12 and 11 points; and Mr Barton heads carrying 14, 12 12 and 11 points. The beam was about s|; length 36, 34, 33 and 33; span 35, 32, 29 and 32. They saw no malforms, but there were very many with either one or both bay times missing and many with the tops lot correctly palurated. There was abundant feed and the high country was understocked, but owing to bad weather and anow the conditions throughout were unfavourable for a correct estimate of country. The season was late and in the low country the stags were young and exceptionally wary’ and me hinds only in twos and threes and very scattered; on the tops, however, their best heads had fully a dozen hinds rounded up. Their four good heads came from an altitude of 5.100 feet and the south end of their country’ had a thorough combing. They’ did not explore the northern portion except that their other beads were secured by boat. He suggested liberation of Makarora stock, carefully selected, on Te Anau-Manapouri portion, that the infusion might prove beneficial. The inbreeding of cull heads must prove a bad policy. He suggested that a few pounds ■pent on line-cutting would be more appreciated than the great amount spent on dubious culling. It took almost two days to cut a line to one's stalking ground. He had shot a sparrow-hawk, a fine wild boar, •nd also saw 17 pigeons in one flight, about 15 paradise ducks, half a dozen crested grebe, seven swans, about 12 grey duck, •nd thirty of a smaller beach species. Any birds safe from the stoat were plentiful and the others were about extinct at Manapouri. Mr F. S. Steffan, of Timaru, reported on his trip to Stewart Island. On March 25 be landed 8 miles south of Port Pegasus. The weather was bad and during the whole three weeks it was continually blowing a howling gale from the north-west. He shot Only one 8-pointer buck. The mating season was over when they arrived there and the bucks were mostly in the dense bush. The shooting season for Virginians from Pegasus to the south end of the island, •hould, in his opinion, open on March 1. He saw no trace of red deer during his three weeks on the island. He did not think the red deer of the north would come further south than where established at present, as feed in the southern end of Pegasus was not suitable. The Virginians rere limited and he saw only 22. The reports and suggestions contained therein were referred to the Deer Committee. A short discussion ensued on the question of the Gore members attending the meetings, Mr Traynor remarking that they •hould appear at least once in three months, even if the Society had to pay their expenses. The position was that with no representation at the meetings and no reports, they did not know what was going on at Gore, whether they were satisfied or had grievances to ventilate. One or two other members spoke on similar lines, and it was decided to grant the Gore members leave of absence, but to expect them to be represented at three meetings in the year. Mr Evans, the Society’s ranger, appeared before the meeting to report on his interview with Mr Ayson relative to the Society's application to take brown trout ova from the Upukarora and to combine with the Government operations on the same stream. The Ranger said that Mr Ayson appeared to take up the position that the Society should give up the salmon altogether before they could talk business.

Members commented on the unsatisfactory position the Society was in. the season being late and no reply to the Society’s re presentations having been received from the Department. It was finally decided to hold over the matter of the erection of the eying station until a reply was received from the Minister and to call a special meeting within ten days.

The following were elected to the Stock Committee:—Messrs Crofts, Keast, Pattie, Gollins, Stephens, Traynor, McKenzie, Strang and Captain Weir. Mr Traynor said he would like to see some discussion of the future development of the Society. He suggested that every registered angling and gun club should have a delegate on the Council and it had also been suggested that .they should do away with the block shooting system. Mr Tapper advocating stocking waste waters with perch and that special attention should be given to rivers adjacent to the town, so as to cater for the ordinary man, who did not have a car to take him to rivers in different parts of the province. It was decided to liberate perch fry or sva in waters throughout the district, and it was suggested that the other matters advocated might have the attention of the committees concerned.