FISH AND GAME

Southland Times, Issue 22013, 12 May 1933, Page 5

FISH AND GAME

ACCLIMATIZATION SOCIETY. MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the council of the Southland Acclimatization Society was held last evening. There were present: Messrs James Robertson (president, in the chair), J. E. Cuthill, J. F. R. Darragh, John Gilkison, N. R. Mac Kay, W. N. Johnston, C. Wilson, Eustace .Russell, S. M. Macalister, A. Hamilton, A. R. Dickson, G. F. Strang, B. Henderson, J. Thomas, R. Sloan and Dr A. F. Ritchie Crawford. The secretary of the Stratford Acclimatization Society (Mr G. A. Carter) wrote ordering 30,000 eyed brown trout ova. The Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs (Mr Malcolm Fraser) advised that the Government had decided to declare open trapping seasons for opossums this yean The season in the Southland Society s district would be from noon on June 1 to noon on August 1, 1933, inclusive. Royalty would be at the rate of 6d per skin, with an additional 3d per skin in case of late stamping or stamping out of the district where the animals were taken. The trapper’s license fee would be £2 10/-. Wapiti Stalking. Interesting reports on Wapiti stalking were forwarded by Mr N. S. R. Adamson, an English stalker, and Mr G. Buchanan, jun. (Thornbury). Mr Adamson had block 3 (Middle Arm, Te Anau) and Mr Buchanan and party the Worsley prospecting block. Neither party secured a head, although Mr Adamson, who experienced only one fine day in the last fortnight of his trip, saw about 30 head all told, none of which was big enough to be worth shooting. “Our party, consisting of four, arrived at the mouth of the Worsley River on March 18,” stated Mr Buchanan’s report. “We proceeded as far up the river in the launch as was safe, probably about a quarter of a mile, and made a landing on the right bank. This was our base camp. The next day was spent in investigating in the vicinity, and as indications were lack, ing, we set out the following morning with provisions for nine days. Continuous rain for five days at this stage necessitated our staying in our flying camp, and on its clearing up it was deemed advisable to make a return to the base for further provisions. Another day’s journey brought us to where the river forks. The main stream continued in a westerly direction, the tributary coming in on the right. It was in this locality that the first imprints recently made were seen. An animal was heard at close quarters in the dense undergrowth. Further travel up the river from here on the righthand side was impossible. A tree was felled for a bridge and better going was found on the other side for the rest of the way. More imprints were seen further up. The river was followed to its source and a pass over the divide was found. That the wapiti had made use of it was proved. Tracks of a large animal and also a small one were found on the western side of the watershed leading over and were traced into the Worsley Valley. The members of our party are of the opinion that the tracks all down the valley were made by the same animals on the wander. Certainly there are very few .wapiti there as yet. No well-beat-en tracks were seen anywhere. The launch returned on April 4 and we set out for civilization after having spent a very interesting and enjoyable trip (the attentions of the sandflies, of course, excepted). Wekas and Blue Mountain ducks were plentiful. Grey duck, paradise duck, geese, swans, shags, pigeons, parrakeets, keas, fantails, bell-birds, wrens and a kiwi were seen. We also saw one stoat, the only animal on four legs we saw on the block.”

It was decided to thank the stalkers for their reports. In his monthly report the society’s manager (Mr C. J. Evans) stated that he had extended the flume of the Eglinton hatchery for 30 yards and had erected a new hatchery 12ft by 16ft. He had also erected a hut for the men. At present the men were engaged in enlarging the holding ponds. Owing to the continuous wet weather, he had been unable to make a start with the rack up to the present time. There seemed to be no improvement in the weather. The Marine Department had so far been unable to get its trap in the Upukororo and if the weather continued very much longer, he was expecting the attempts to be given up for the season. If they were he could cut enough timber for a rack and put it in in time for the trout run.