FISH AND GAME

Southland Times, Issue 22474, 9 November 1934, Page 4

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), Eustace Russell, J. F. R. Darragh, G. F Strang, J. H. Thomas, W. Excell, R. McKenzie, C. W. Wilson, N. R. Mac Kay, J. D. Speirs, A. W. Hamilton, F. B. Henderson and Dr. A. F. Ritchie Crawford. “My council is very grateful to youi society for agreeing to our ranger being appointed to act in your district when occasion warrants him doing so,” wrote Mr R. Hanning, secretary of the Otago Acclimatization Society. “I have written to the Under-Secretary asking that our man should be appointed for your society’s territory.” The appointment of the society ranger, Mr Ernest Duncan, as a ranger for the Otago and Lakes Acclimatization Societies was announced in a warrant from the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs. Depredations of Shags. A tabulated statement showing that a total of 975 shags had been shot on the inland waters in Otago, Southland and Canterbury from 1921 to 1934 was forwarded by Mr H. G. Williams, of Dunedin. The statement showed that on an average each shag contained 5.3 trout Mr Williams stated that it was his intention to continue the investigation until those in authority launched a systematic scheme to deal with the bird, which he was convinced was mainly responsible fro the decrease of fair-sized trout m inland waters. Thanking the society for a supply of ammunition for shag-.-shooting, the secretary of the Waiau Anglers’ Club stated that 70 sh.i?s had been destroyed. He also asked if anything had been done in regal d to worm fishing in the Orawia. Ti.e club intended holding an eeling competition and a donation was requested. It was decided to forward a donation similar to last year’s, and it was stated that nothing could be done this season regarding worm fishing. Advice that at the annual meeting of the Winton Anglers’ Club it was decided that the club was in favour of the length of fish taken being increased from lOin to 12in was received from the secretary, Mr H. Graham. It was decided to suggest that the club should give a notice of motion for the next annual meeting. Manager’s Report. The monthly report of the manager (Mr C. J. Evans) stated that the liberating of fry for the month was as follows: Otamita, 39,500; Hamilton Burn, 42,000; Mararoa, 42,000; Aparima,83,000; Oreti, 84,000; Otapiri 84,000; Otamita, 42,000; Ohai Anglers’ Club, 45,000; Mataura, 84,000; Dunsdale, 84,000; Lora, 84,000; Waimatuku, 42,000; Pourakino, 42,000; Aparima, 45,000; Waimea, 45,000; Eglinton, 15,000. There were still about 300,000 fry to be liberated. After a small liberation in the Waikiwi and Waihopai and a load to Tuatapere he proposed to divide the remainder between the Waiau, Oreti and Aparima. All the beds in the rivers he had inspected were in excellent order. It was interesting to note that the quail had spread to the Eglinton Valley. The launch was now repaired and in working order. It was decided that the remainder of the fry should be liberated as follows: 200,000 in the Waiau from the Wairaki down; 100,000 equally in the Oreti from Winton to Oporo, in the Makarewa from Grove Bush to Wallacetown and in the Aparima from Fairfax to Thombury.