ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10468, 19 May 1923, Page 4

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

ANNUAL REPORT. Following is The annual report of the above Society, which will be read at the annual meeting, to be held in Timaru o n Thursday next, 24th inst.: — Your Council has pleasure in su'bmitting for your approval the Twentv- seventh Annual Report and Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the year ended March 31st, 1923, to which is attached the .IJalance-Sh-eet. FINANCIAL. Tim caali receipts Tor the year totalled £785 14/9. as against £502 1/2 for the previous vear, while the ordinary expenditure for the period under review was £717 10/4, compared with £Ol2 19/9 during the vear ended March ?,\, 182 S. A comparison with last year's figures of the principal items of expenditure shoves as uuder:— 1922 1923 Ranging .. .. 205 16 4 247 7 4 Administration . . 172 7 6 264 9 2 The increase in the cost of administration is due to the payment, of commission and the larger amounts paid for printing and advertising and legal expenses. The income from fishing licenses decrease.il by £45, the amount received from this source being; £460 15/-. The sale of game licenses brought In the sum of £IOB 10/-, whilst the increase in membership augmented the funds of the Society to the extent of £92 15/-. After allowing for depreciation and outstanding liabilities, the year's working shows an improvement in financial position of £92 8/2. FISHING. Generally speaking, the n>h'ng Reason has been moderately good, some very good baskets being obtained, and towards the end of the season quite a number of big Ash were caught. Next season should show an improvement, as the river has been full of small fish "Sarelv size, which bv next season should provide good sport. The size of taUeable fish could with advantage be increased to at least 10 inches. The Ranger has removed 5600 yearlings from streams that were fast drying up to the upper waters of the Waihi, Kakahu Tengawai. Hae Hae To Moana, Opihi, and a creek above Alburv.' The hatching of brown trout last year was not very successful as Die fish ran late at Alexandria, and it wag impossible to impregnate the eggx. With the Rainbow Trout, however, conditions could not have been better, and 20,000 were hatched out and liberated In the Timaru reservoir and the Winchester dam. More hatching boxes have been'made this year, and it is Intended to hatch out 100,000 fry. The bulk 'of these will be from the Mexandrina Brown Trout, which have not the migratory habits of the river fish. The shifting of the fish and the collection of the ova was all done by the Ranger witk his motor cycle and side car. QUINNAT SALMON. The run of Salmon in the Rangitata this year has easily eclipsed any former year, and has provided excellent sport for quite a number of license holders. To meet the wishes of salmon anglers and to gain further information regarding these fish, the season has been extended to the 15th of May. Whether this extension is desirable remains to be seen.

DEEP, SHOOTING. The Albury lierd is still in existence, although the heads are not improving. The Government is taking quite a keen interest in the depredations of the deer throughout New Zealand, and it appears to be only a question of time before the bulk of the herds will be exterminated r - GAME SHOOTING. A three months' season, opening on the Ist of of May last year, was secured for the shooting of Grey Duck, Black Teal, Mallard Duck, and Swans For the first time it was necessary to hold a license to shoot game, and although the arrangements made were somewhat hurried, the regulations worked fairly smoothly. Passably good bags were obtained. For the present season permission has been granted to shoot Paradise Duck, with a limit of five head per gun per day, in addition to the game which was allowed to be taken last yea'r.

OPOSSUMS. The season for the killing of Opossums was the same as last year, and your Society benefitted materially thereby, SHAGS. Your Council is continuing its policy ijf encouraging the destruction of these cormorants by paying 3/- per head. While this work is a consistent drain on the finances of the Society, it is considered most essential t(0 do everything possible to reduce the numbers of these birds, which exact such an alarming toll from the rivers in the district. Sportsmen are urged to do all possible to assist in this direction. LIFE MEMBERS. Fifty-three life members have been ejected during the year. JULES. Acting on the direction of the last Annual General Meeting, the Council took steps to have new rules for the conduct of the Society's affairs drawn up, and these were passed at a special meeting of members held on January 20th last. The Minister of Internal Affairs having given his assent, your Council is now working under slightly altered conditions. Copies of the new rules will be available shortly for distribution to members. STAFF. Your Council desires to record special appreciation of the good services rendered by Mr Main (Ranger), and Mr Hughes (Secretary), COUNCIL. The Council held eleven meetings during the year, the attendance of members being as follows:—W. Grant 11, W. Mcßride and E. Hardcastle 10, L. B. James and F. Adams 9, J. E. Pigott 8, Dr. Hislop and W. G. Aspinall 7, F. C. May 6, A. E. Benn 5 C. S. Young 3, R. L. Wigley and E. Macdonald 2, and the late Mr F. R. Gilllngham 1. During the year Mr E. Macdonald was appointed to fill th'e vacancy caused by the unfortunate decease of Mr F. R. Gillingham. The Council lost the assistance of! Mr R. L. Wigley, who, owing to pressure of business, resigned hie seat o n the Council. Mr C. S. Young was appointed in his stead. The following members'of the Council retire by rotation: W. Mcßride, F. C. May and C. S. Young (Timaru and Levels County), PI Hardcastle and W. G Aspinall (Temuka, and Geraldine County) and F. Adams and E. Macdonald (Mackenzie County>, but are eligible for re-election if duly nominated. Nominations for seat* On the Council must reach th© Secretary not later than noon on Monday, May £l, 1923. Statutory notice of the Annual General Meeting of Members wa» given by advertisement appearing in the "Timaru Herald" on Monday. May 14, 1923. B. HUGHES, Secretary. W.MtBRIDE, President.