YEAR'S ACTIVITIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20127, 21 April 1928, Page 3

YEAR'S ACTIVITIES

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY INTERESTING ANNUAL REPORT In reference to imported and native game, it is stated in the annual report of the Wanganui Acclimatisation So ciety, to be presented at the annua, general meeting on Tuesday next, thal breeders who are working for the so ciety -were successful in rearing 22( pheasants, which .have been liberated in favoured localities throughout tht district. Owing to the operations ol rabbit boards in conducting extensive poisoning, it was deemed advisable tc liberate the binds in certain localities The birds liberated appear to have (lone well and should provide good sport during the coming season. Un fortunately, however, vermin continue to take heavy toll and it is oniy bj ■ ontinueid extensive stocking that th* 3 supply of game can be maintained. Fo? the coining season the braiders’ opera lions hav c been curtailed, as the soc.ity’* iunds will not permit of ih. conr.u- • purchase of rirls n suel a ; large scale as last year. I Grey duck appear to have had a good season, and some good bags should be secured next month. The committee are making arrange- . Hunts to secure a consignment of mallard duck. These will bt» (delivered shortly and will be pinioned and liber ated in sanctuaries, where they will be able to bleed wtuoat. molestation. Open Season for Pukeko Owing to repeated representations as ito the damage done by Pk.lu-. an open season for the month of May has been declared in order to keep the I biiv s within b >un i-. They havc : been protected for some years and Lave increased rapidly. The committee ; did not wish to see them become a I nu sance to Jaimers and therefore »c<-k the course of recommending a short ‘•ca.-iri Other acelimac’satioa vir euo* lave been cl bgcd to have an open scr.>;on for Pukeko where they have become a nuisance. However, it is not intended that they shall be permanent.y nut on rhe open game list, and the position will be reviewed next year. Malformed Deer Destroyed Some good heads were secured last season, showing the wisdom of the society’s policy in protecting the younger stags. An open season on the sume verms now in operation, and so far several good heads have been reported. During the close season permission was given to several property owners to cull the herds, and a fair number of old and malformed deer wer e destroyed. This should have the eeect of improving the herds. Atlantic Salmon. The Fisheries Department continues to carry out the intensive stalk-ng policy of the late Mr L. F. Ayson in regard to the Wanganui River, and approximately 750,000 fry were liberated list year in the m t er reach .o 1' is four years now since the first fry were liberated in the river and it was thought there might be some evidence of a run this year. Several reports have been received as to Atlantic salmon being caught in the river, but so far no definite confirmation has been received. The so- * ciety would be grateful if any fish (’caught, thought to be a salmon, were y handed to them as the Fisheries DeX partment is particularly anxious to I secure a specimen. I In connection with the establishment Z of the salmon it was essential that II j some revision of the netting regulae tions should be undertaken. RcpreI sentations were made to the Marine I Department and as a result new reJ ■ gulations have just been gazetted proJ jhibiting the use of set nets in any part y of the river, and allowing drag nets !' «nlv below the Town Bridge. I This has occasioned some adverse ! criticism but it was absolutely neces(sary if the salmon are to be successfully established in the river. Once c ■ tliijs is accomplished the river will beE i come the Mecca of all fishermen in i the Dominion. ? / Trout Restoration q An extra lot of particularly fine troui [yearlings was secured from the Hawera Society and liberated in the c liautapu and Mangawhero streams. It fl is the committee’s intention to con V i-iuuc to heavily stock the latter streair X in order to attempt to restore the ji good fishing whiefi was obtained there 'x prior to the Raetihi bush fires in J9lB i The yearlings liberated there this last : two years are now beginning to show : up, and some good sport should be □ available there next fishing season, [j Taupo Fishing. o 6 With the road improvements carneel II out on the Parapara, the fishing waters O in the National Park and rivers flow A I tug into the Taupo and the lake itscll y | are being brought within easy motoring ? i distance of our city. The mileage iron: H Wanganui to Raetihi is. 6U miles, Rae!tihi to National Park 22, and Nation al Park to Tokaanu 42, a total distance of 124 miles which under good road conditions can easily be traversed ir about five hours. Now that the Government has acv quired the fishing rights to the rivers || ’ viewing into Lake Taupo, miles ol y good fishing waters have now been X , available to anglers and the Govern I ' ment has also opened up motor roads X along the banks of the Tongarirc X ; River. Opossum Trapping A f Tho revenue derived from opossums II ' last year showed a decrease on tlis e previous year which was a record. This fi was only to be expected in view ol y ihe heavy toll taken by trappers. It is * remarkable, however, how the opussun || continues to hold its own and witt V ; judicious supervision the trapping in X dustry should continue to be a profit II ' able one in the district. a BroKcrs’ reports again comment or fi - the excellent get-up and quality ol II . the Wanganui skins, which was re g i fleeted in the top prices obtained. This H 1 ‘H a measure in due to the advice anc U 1 information given by the society’s of | i fleers to trappers throughout the dis H 1 triet, X j Protection of Birds. || Th# society Is doing useful service y ia tho proioctlon of both indigenous 8* Isnd imporio/l birds that arg on the of protoetfid Hrd« under the i and Gam# Protection Act F|. W 2142, j u to sot# that th<

English hedge sparrow, which appeared for the first time in Wanganui a few years ago, has now greatly increased. The ranger, Air Scobie, continues to do good work, and although poaching is still in evidence, it is now kept within reasonable bounds. The society will use every means within its power to check poaching and other illicit practices.