ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 83, 29 April 1901, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The twenty-eighth annual meeting of the Accliniatisatioa Society was held at tho Council chamber oaSiturday last, Mr. W. Newman, president, being in tho chair.

Mr. Ayssn, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, was present, and made focoe very interesting and useful remarks during the meeting.

Tbe twenty-eighth yearly report stated that only 28,000 rainbow and 5,000 brown trout fry were received last season frOm the Mastetton hatcheries, and tbose came to hand iii bad order. The former were liberated in the Te Hepui and the latter in Waiweranui, Teikaparua, Kapoaiaia, Watotorua, and Okahu rivers, Fishing had proved exceedingly gdodj etad as « consequence tbere had been 40 license's issued. Refereeca wag made to the Act of last session fixing the opening of the season for shooting native and imported gaaie for the North Island for Ist May, and also making a close season every third ye»r for kaka, pnkeho, native pigeon, tui, crested grebe, and white heron. A hope was expressed that not only would sportsmen observe the Act, but would assist the Society to protect those birds from total destruction, Pheasants and Californian quail were reported as plentiful throughout the district, and Virginian quail ss increasing satisfactorily. Nothing had been seen of the English partridges and ducks, nor of the opossums, during the year. Humble bees were stated to have increased greatly, and in some districts could be seen in hundreds, Attention was drawn to the destruction of trout by speariog and placing lime in some of the rivers, also to tho dumping of sawmill refuse in some of the beat streams. As shooting was being indulged in by some persnna the commit'ea r.commended liberal rewards being offered for convictions abtiined against offenders.

The balance - sheet showed the revsnuo for tbe year, including last year's balance, X 226 lis 3d, while the expenditure, including £3O for fish supplied tho previous year, amounted to .£ll7 15s 3d, leaving a credit balance of ,£IOB 16s.

The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said he considered the financial position ef the Society was very satisfactory. It was unfortunate that only 8000 yeung fish could b.9 obtained, as 25,000 was nearer the number required. He was glad that Mr, Ayson was present and he hoped he wou'd give tha Saciety some valuable information.

Mr. On kill seconded the motion, which was carried. A circular was read from the Wellington Society with refnrence to a proposal to establish a Slate Giime Farm, and asking for co-operation in the project. The Secretary stated that after consulting the Chairman he had replied that the Society would join in the proposal. Tbe Chairman intimated that the Society could well contribute up to .£ls. In reply to Mr. Corkill ho said he assumed birds would be reared in captivity. It was decided that a sum not exceeding £ls be allocated towards th"> object in question. A circular was rfad from the Treasury intimating that a fse of 6d would in future be payable to the Department in respect of every license granted. Mr. Gibson drew attention to tbe damage done by quail. He said the greater portion of his grass seed had boen eaten by tho«e birds, which wore at present swarming in the district.

The question of the partridges bsing lost sight of was discussad and Mr Ayson gave it as his experience that it was necessary to turn these birds out whore there were not only stubble but turnips and plantation shelter.

Mr W, L. Newman was appointed President, and MrMcAllum, Secretary aud Treasurer. The late Committee was re-elected. Mr Corkill inquired if the Committee bad any plana in relation to importation. He was inclined to thiuk that the ranges might be stocked with goits, not Angora but such as were on the Welsh mountains.

The question of getting deer was also mooted, but tho Chairman stated that objection had bsen raised thut owing to the deer being hand bred they made for the nearest homestead and proved dangerous to children,

Ma Aysoa said that the present feeling was strongly in favour of rearing door in a half wild state. By makiDg conditions liberal to the sportsmen there was no fear of deer becoming a nuisance. He referred to the experimental importation of Morse, only two pairs of these survived the voyage and these had been liberated, and it was hoped was doing well. With regard t j 'he introduction of go its ho thought, that there would not be much difficul'y in getting three or four pairs of! I Ch'imois which would be far bettor than tho ordinary mountain goats. With ri'foreai.'e to fish he considered the result of the Society's experiments were very sa'isfactory. He had suggested to the Secretary that instead of j turning the fry out in a bulk at ouo place it was advisable to distribute thfin in small portions at different I points of the rive . I Mr. Gihsoi suggested thai trout be j put in the Kniauai. I

t Mr. Ayson gave somo vsry interestini» inferaation as to the Americin whitofish, which had heftn turned out! in the South M*ud. Its flesh, ho sa«d, was very delicafci, uo<l ifc was ;i! toother one of the most; valuable lishes, and therefore well worth iiitroauciug on an. sxtcnsivo scale. J; was nat, however, a Bpo>'tmatt's fi.-b, na it required ne't ing. Tisova were hatcfieries ii; Am.nica w<ire one hundred million fry wer; produced in a season. With rc-gard tc p?rch, he strongly advised against any bein» turned out in trout streams, athey played great havoc with tho trout spawn, Ho also stated tfcat it wan the , intention of tho Government to give: : attention so lobster cult-urn. There |i was another valuable fish that was to . i be foui'iU i& gco.l supply cn the Oa.go . ico:iß f , and tbifc wjs #*a ran brown which at present could not be sob.', burno was lewmmiendinj-j thr Government to remove the lvst: ictiori. This fish attained a considerable way, and it took an expert to tell the difference fin" ween it and salmon. There wan no doubt that aa an article of I'ommorco ifc would prove very valuable and would fel?h a a very iiiga price on the Australian laarkat. Under prosea* cireusßstamces

he fishermen were placed in a false position. He would impose a minimum market weight of say 51b«. Mr, Gib>ol thought that it would be a good move if the Government would impose a very heavy tax on pea rifles. Thf'y were the means of great destruction to pigeons. Mr. Ayson was sura that the close time for native birds would not of itself stop their extinction. It was absolutely necessary that Urge areas of native bush should be reserved and be under proper surveillance. He also referred to the necessity of convening the bush around mountain streams. Mr: Gibson said he had no ftars as to fish being exterminated, but he had for birds, unless proper precautions were taken, especially in preserving hen pheasants. Mr. Ayson strongly advised that if gtfats were turned out they should ba of the best kltid and valuable for their skins as well as their flesh-*°fch« Angoras for instance. Mr. Oorkill sUggoated tho Committee should make inquiries as tD obtaining seme Angoras. A most hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Ayson for his valuable information and suggestions he had given, and the meeting closed with the usual compliment to the chair.