RAETIHI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 117, 20 May 1932, Page 3

RAETIHI

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY The twenty-ninth annual meeting of the Waimarino Acclimatisation Society was hold in tho society’s office, Raetihi, on Wednesday night, the president, Mr. A. W. Ashwell being in the chair. Report The annual report submitted to members showed that the amount of fishing licenses sold, including cash in the hands of the agents on March 31, amounted to £196 ss, a decrease of £B. Tho game licenses sold, including cash in agents’ hands totalled £22, showing a decrease of £3 and no revenue was received from doer as they are now unprotected. The fishing season had been excellent, both in regard to weather and the number and quality of fish. The fish were in excellent condition right from the opening of the season. The streams were too low for the wet fly and spinning anglers since the beginning ol January as there has not been a real fresh in any of them from that time right up to the end of March, but th? dry fly angler could still obtain good sport, although more skill was required. The Waimarino, through the agency of the Anglers’ Guido published last year, has been visited by several Wellington anglers who have been well pleased with the results and are enthusiastic about tho streams Four and five-pounders have been fairly plentiful in the Wanganui, Whakapapa. Mangawhero and Manganui-a-te-ao Streams, and the best fish reported were a couple of nine-pounders from the Wanganui. Nothing heavier than six pounds has been reported from tho Whakapapa during the year although the heaviest fish of the district generally come from that stream. Rainbow, from six to three pounds, have been taken from Lake Kuru at Karioi. These fish have been taken with bait, as it is impossible on account oi the overhanging bush to use a fly or spinning bait from the bank. If a boat or other means of getting out beyond the bush were provided, there is no doubt excellent sport could be obtained with the fly as the fish are frequently seen rising well. The hatchery was not run during tho last season as the revenue now received does not permit its working every year As the result of last year’s stocking with fry from the hatchcry, the rainbow liberated in a small tributary of tho Waiuanoa, a virgin stream, are doing well and the rainbow in Lake Kuru are the result of the previous work, of tho hatchery. 1 Pheasants are still on the decrease and through the ravages of the stoat ■ and tho weasel the day does notappear 1 to be far distant when a pheasant will 1 be a rare sight in tho district. Quail are not disappearing quite so fast, but. ' are now very much less evident than previous to the great fire in 1918. Grey duck are doing well at Karioi, and paradise duck are becoming more num- ! erous.

The lifting of the protection from deer has had marked effect on these animals in this district, as in these localities where they were once fairly well established there appears only to be an occasional deer found wandering about. Although several fair heads have been reported, among them a 15 and a 16-pointer, none of them have been taken by stalking, but mostly through finding them wandering in most unexpected places. The opossum season was a very poor one, principally on account of tho extraordinarilv bad weather.

Several stag rookeries have been destroyed during the year, but there does not seem to be any noticeable decrease in the number of these birds to be seen on the streams. The theory about them living on eels and taking only an occasional weakling trout, does not apply in this district, as there are no records of them destroying eels, and plenty of records of them being filled with trout —and no weaklings at that! —as has been proved by finding strong, healthy trout in birds killed before they had time to digest the fish. The removal of the protection on stoats and weasels has been given a little more latitude by the Government during the past year, but its effect is infinitesimal and until the protection is removed altogether and some disease introduced amongst them there will be no benefit afforded to bird-life.

There have bee:* eleven council meetings held during the year, and the attendance has been as follows: —A. W. Ashwell 7, H. J. Angus 1, H. A. Dauphin 9, J. Dawson 9, J. A. Morton 1, J. P. Proude 9, J. Jones 0, H. D. Sandford 9, T. Shout 11, R. F. Wise 5, A. C. Henderson 11.

It is to be regretted that . Mr. R. F. Wise has removed to a remote part of the district and had to tender his resignation as a member of tho council, as he has proved a valuable member in the years in which he has held office- However, he will act in future as a country representative. The report and balance-sheet, after discussion, were adopted. GENERAL The following were elected office bearers for the ensuing year: President, Mr. A. W. Ashwell; vice-presidents, Messrs. W. McNie and Tom Shout; council, Messrs. H. Angus, H. A. Dauphin, J. Dawson, J. A. Morton (Ohakune), J. Jones (Ohakune), H. DSandford, J. P. Proude; treasurer, Mr. A. C. Henderson. It was explained that the secretary was elected by the council at its first meeting. On the motion of Mr. Shout it w T as agreed to recommend that a conference of delegates from the various acclimatisation societies be held this year. Mr. U. Gardner, Hukapapa, Oio. wrote at length making several recom mendations with regard Io tho work oi tho society. With regard to the proposal of the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society that an attempt should be made to stock Atlantic salmon instead of quinnat salmon it was agreed that sufficient time had not elapsed to test the efforts made in connection with the Wanganui River and the Waimarino Society considered that four years should elapse before the attempt should be considered a failure and other steps taken. A bonus of £3 3s was voted the

secretary for his untiring energy in the interests of the society. Thanks were accorded Mr. Edwards for the use of his motor-lorry, the Press, and the various agents of the society. It was decided to reduce the price given for shags’ feet. Lq Is 6d per pair*