FISHING AND SHOOTING

Wairarapa Age, 12 March 1934, Page 4

FISHING AND SHOOTING

ACCLIMATISATION ACTIVrMK DURING PAST YEAR. NORTH WAIRARAPA COMMITTEE REPORT. DISTRIBUTION OF FBY. The annual report of the North Wairarapa Sub-Oommittee of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society state*: Four committee meetings were held during the year and one special general meeting to protest against the small amount of fry to be reared for the season. The special general meeting unanimously decided to recommend the council to purchase one million ova in addition to those obtained by trapping. Following this meeting, all sub-commit-tees were cixvulariscd asking for their support in the matter. Although all . committees were in agreement, it is regretted that the council could not see its way to purchase more than 400,000. With a view to the better stocking of our waters, a number-of enthusiast* eanvassed the district and raised the sum of £l6>;los 3d for th-a purchase of ova. Of this sum £l2 10: was expended in the purchase of 100,900 ova from Southland, which were reaved for us at the society’s hatchery. Tike remaining £4 Os 3d wiR form the nucleus of a . fund for next year’s stocking. In addition to the above fry the eociety allocated 90,000 to the district. Fry have been distributed as follows:—Waipoua, 30,000; Waingawa, 25JKK); Ruamahanga, .'15,000; Kopuaranga, 100,000. Yearlingw Upper reacbee of Waingawa , 750; upper reaches ofj Ruamahanga, . 750. My committee is Wrongly of the ■ opinion that trapping -t>r ova as carried ouU-.by the society- last year wa» - an expeusive failure, and consider*. that much better results will be obtained from the purchase o£ Southland ova. THE FISHING SEASON. During the early pant of the season fishing was fair. After Christmas, very few, as a rule, were taken through the day, though night fishermen were more successful. Fishing in the district is steadily deteriorating, smaller bags and smaller fish being the rule. We cannot expect oar waters to maintain.. even their present standard, let alone- to show improvement, without liberal stocking, adequate ranging and wan- on shags. As- to the individual streams: The Kopuaranga again proved itself the best stream in the district. Though heavily thrashed for a limited period, it clears slowly after flooding and is very bad with weed daring a great part of the summer. TUese two factors, besides the willows which make a great deal of the wauer unfishable, help the river the maintain its position. The Buamahanga fishes fairly - ; well at places but contains very fewI fish above the Te Ore Ore bridge. The ’ Waingawa is practically barren of fish. . The Waipoua iished remarkably well ! until the dry weather set in, when it . was heavily poached. Hashing has ! fallen off badly since. j SHOOTING. '

Pheasants, were liberated'last autumn in various parts of the district. Only one report has been received »o far ami in this case the birds are doing well. This committee- is still of the opinion that the expense of breeding and liberating pheasants is not justified by results. Duek and Swan: The opening of the season, again proved most unsatisfactory owing to the lake being high and the weather calm. A few good bags were nevertheless reported from the eastern side. It is certain that game on the lake is not on the increase. Game owners roun ’ the Lake are crying out for a close -ason to assist conservation. My comarlitee has already made a recommendation to the council to this effect. Ranging: Mr. Willson, the society’s head ranger, has visited us on several occasions, for which we are thankful, bat we feel that owing to the size of his district he cannot do full justice to it. Our new honorary ranger, ~r r * , Evans, has been active, particularly ou the Kopuaraaga. Vermin: My committee is of the opinion that payment of a small sum for shags’ feet would materially assist in their destruction.

THE HATCHERY. We notice with alarm that the Borough Council is casting covetous eyes on the springs feeding the hatch--Bry “““ ‘. hc rearing ponds. The Borugh Engineer has been measuring the Sow with a view to pumping from the springs into the town water supply in dry weather. We would point out that this spring is not adequate for more than the needs of the hatchery. We consider that the hatchery should be run to capacity, with a view to proper re-stockmg, not only of the streams of our own district, but of all waters “nder the society’s control. Thanks; The thanks of the com&ittee are due to all who have assisted in the work of acclimatisation and in particular to the Curator of the Hatchery, on whom depends very largely the success of anglers in the Wellington district. The thanks of the committee are also due to our delegate to the council for his untinng efforts on our behalf.—('Signcd) O. Jansen, chairman.