ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10306, 7 March 1922, Page 1

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A meeting of the Council of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society was held at Temuka on Saturday. Present —Messrs W. McBride (chairman), L. B. James, E. Hardcastle, F. V. Lysaght, F. C. May, W. Grant, J E. Pigott, A. E. Benn. W. G. Aspinall and Forester Adams. : Corrrspondence was read from Dr. C. Morton Anderson of a visit he had paid to Lake Alexandrina, and:mentioned that visitors to the hut there would be well advised not to leave broken bottles or empty tins about. He was satisfied that there is an abundance of trout in the lake, but why the rainbow would not take the fly well he could not understand. They were not very keen on the minnow either. y*The Department of Internal Affairs forwarded copies of the warrant making regulations for the deer shooting season in the Society's district. The Milford Lagoon Association wrote asking if the Society would entertain an offer for their hut at 'the Lagoon.—After u good deal ofdicussion, eventually it was left in the hands of the chairman and Mr Grant to inspect the hut and ascertain its value and report to the next meeting. The ranger (Mr J. Scott Main) reported having visited the best parts of the fishing waters in South Canterbury and found that there has been a few good fish caught in the upper reaches of the Pareora and a good few in the lower reaches of the Orari. The Rringitatn has yrAiled fair sport to the salmon anglers, and these fißh 'have been caught up to 261bs. A run of small trout came into this river towards the end of the month and between the salmon and the trout, anglers did fairly woll. The Opihi's lower pools have yielded some good fish from 4 to 16 lbs., but very few good baskets have been taken. : The upper waters of this river from Pleasant Point have practically no fish in them and until this state of affairs is altered by heavy stocking, the fishings in any part of this river cannot be oxpected to be good. It can be seen by the Tuns, of fish in the lower waters of the Opihi that trout has jumped two seasons. Whether this was through floods or low waters he was unable td say, but there are few fish belonging to the spawning seasons, 1918 and 1910. The motor-car has placed the rivers in this district at every angler's door, so that the rivers are getting fished more frequently than ever. Fishing in this district is not good and to hide this fact will not repair or make amends for the depleted waters. There is only one solution of the difficulty and that is heavy stocking with trout fry in all the top waters of the rivers and streams. A long discussion took place with the ranger on re-stocking the upper waters of the rivers and it was-de-cided to adopt the ranger's suggestions for stripping fish at Lake Alexandrina and for ' hatching out the eggs in trout-depleted waters. He explained that he could do the work himself and at very little cost to the Society. Mr Main gave the meeting some very useful knowledge bearing on this important subject, and the ranger handled the subject in a very convincing way, as if to the manner born. Mr Ayson, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, had offered Mr Main (and he had accepted subject to the Society's approval) the position of Inspector of Fisheries in. South Canterbury under the Marine Department, a similar position he had held in North Canterbury.—The Society unanimously approved. The shooting season was brought up by Mr James, who stated that this year was a close season for native and imported game, but ho thought they should ask the Department to allow shooting for a fortnight. He moved to this effect. Mr Benn seconded, and the motion was carried. THE USE OF TORCHES. A long discussion took place concerning the practice of torching on Milford Lagoon and all rivers. Mr Grant said he did not think they should interfere with people who merely torched for eels, and to go in for drastic action might put the public against thorn. After other members had spoken for and ygainst, the chairman (Mr Mcßride) said the Government had made it illegal, and the Society had no option but to carry out the law, and the ranger was instructed to prosecute offenders . MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Aspinall brought up the matter of opening the mouth of the Opihi and it was left to the chairman and Mr Grant to spend not more than £lO on this work. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Adams for his Offer to accommodate the ranger when lie has stripping work to do at Lake Alexandrina. Mr Pigott said that the late ranger had two nets which had been confiscated and the Council should be careful to see that these nets were handed over to them. j Air Hardcastle said that when the late ranger vacated the Society's cottage he would require to hand the nets over. Mr Pigott said he. would lie satisfied if this were done. Tho chairman said this would he done and an inventory taken of all I the Society's property. ) The chairman reported that, he had Boen the Rector of the Timaru Boys'j High School (Mr W. Thomas,' M.A.) in reference to drawing up conditions for the Raine Memorial essay for competition among pupils j of secondary »chools in South Canterbury. The conditions were read and unanimously approved, and it was decided to ask the Education Board to j appoint an examiner for the essays. With regard to the late ranger giving up possession of the Society's cottage for the new ranger the chairI man said that the matter would have ' to remain in abeyance till the Magistrate gave his decision on the action for trespass. Mr Aspinall said the Society was in a happy position financially, the credit, balance at. the bank standing al .C2SX ndd ;uid that all the- accounts had been paid, and the Secretary stated that still between £2O and 00 had to conn- in for licenses. After several members expressed their views as to the amount to be deposited in the Post Oliiee Savings Bank, Mr Janus mentioned Mie tact that Mr Aspinall. though purporting to act as treasurer of the Society, could not legally hold thut position

as there was no provision in the rules of -the Society for the appointment of a treasurer. The chairman and secretary were appointed trustees of the cre'dit balance which, it was decided, should be deposited in the Post Office Savings Bank. Mr James drew the Society's attention to the fact that their late ranger never had any status as, according to their lawyer, when Mr J. S_ Rutherford (then chairman of the Council) signed the late ranger's apointment he had neglected to see that the Society's seal was attached and this voided the appointment. It was decided not to discuss the matter or. take any further action | till the Magistrate has given his deI cision in the case now before the Court. The meeting then terminated: