WELLINGTON ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8152, 31 May 1906, Page 5

WELLINGTON ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

ANNUAL REPORT.

The annual report of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society for the year ending March 31st states, inter alia: Netting for spawning fish commenced in the Wnipuua on May 3rd, and in the Tupurupuru on May 9th, and finished in the Waipoua on July 22ud, and in the Tupurupuru on July 2Gfch The fish caught in the Waipoua numbered, 399, giving 268,000 eggs; tbo number caught in Tupurupuru was 82, and thsy gave 23,000 eggs. In addition to these 52,000 egg 3 were received from Invercargiil. The first brown trout eggs wore taken o» June 7tb, anrl the last on August 2nd. The rainbow trout commenced spawning on June 27th. and stopped r on August 24th, yielding 364,003 egga. The number of eggs put down to hatch was: Brown trout, 348,000; Rainbow trout, 364,000; total, 712,000. The hatching was fairly successful, over 71 per cent, of the eggs being hatched and liberated. Tbo netting saason was the worst one ever experienced in the history of tbo hatchery, the season lasted 73 days and the neta were working on 35 days only; on the other days the risers were in flood. This accounts for tho comparatively small number, of brown trout eggs. Following up the plau adopted by the Council for some years past some 16 young deer wore captured this season, chiefly on Mr Jno. Martin's property, near Martinborough, and these were liberated in two lots. One in the Upper Opaki District, at the head of the Ruamahanga River, and the other at the bead of the Mangaterere. Four young deer were also obtained from Werribee Park, Victoria and these were liberated at the head of tho Tauherenikau River. The herds established at Wainuiomato, Paraparaumu, Eketabuna, Palmerston North and Erewon are reported to be thriving. The deer question in the Wairarapa baa become a very difficult one> to deal with satisfactorily. The deer are now located principally on privately owned lands, and it cannot be gainsaid that at times they are a considerable tax on the owners of the said lancis, to whom the Society is in many cases indebted , for the protection afforded to the deer, lu order to provide a sanctuary a large block of Government land, some 30,000 acres near > Martin borough, was declared a Reserve. Owing to the difficulty of protecting such rongb country this 1 reserve has for some years been drawn on by shooters, but this season a determined attempt has been made by the Government and the Aclimatieation Society to ensure that it was a sanctuary in reality as well as in name. The closing of the reserve caused disappointment, to some stalkers to whom private land was not available, but on mature consideration sportsmen see that if deer stalking ia to continue iu the dis-j trict, a reserve must be provided. The only question is has too much country been shut up,' if so, means can be taken to release a portion of .it, but on the main question thera "can be no doubt that a reserve is absolutely needed and that it must be protected against all-comers. The Masterton sub-committee reports:—The committee deplore the practice of worm fishing with, a weighted linv, and are of opinion that it should be discountenanced. Rainbow in splendid condition have been grassed in the Ruamahanga, the Mangateretere, and .Waipoua, and all fish were as usual in first rate condition at the opening of the season. A raid on the shags has been atteuded with great success and the raising of the reward at the instance of this sub-com-mittee proved to be a, step in the right direction. The brimming oondition of all the rivers during the summer augurs well for sport during the ensuing season. A large the Upper Waingawti was located and destroyed by a party of sohool boys in November last. All the buildings, tocls, express, and hatching boxes, aud etc., are in good working order. The committee regret the illegal destruction of deer in the Wairarapa, and hope continued efforts will be made during the ensuing season to stock the Tararuas with deer.