FISHING AND SHOOTING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 96, 26 April 1933, Page 10

FISHING AND SHOOTING

ACCLIMATISATION WORK ACTIVE WANGANUI BODY COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL REPORT. ! A comprehensive and instructive report is to be presented at the annual meeting of the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society when it meets on Wednesday evening. Despite the times the finances of the association have been satisfactory. The report is as follows: tl The income for the year amounted to £135 13s lid, while the expenditure was £135 19s 6d, the excess of expenditure over income being 5s 7d. The accumulated funds now stand at £661 12s 4d. The revenue of £135 13s lid shows a decided reduction on that of the previous year, viz., £2OO 5s 6d. This was not unforscen and is mainly accounted for by the loss of opossum royalties. The amount derived from the sales of fishing and game licenses also shows a contraction of 26 6s 2d. This, of course, can be attributed to the times through which we are passing. With the elimination of deer licenses and opossum royalties, the Society’s only source of revenue now is from game and fishing licenses, and the amount so derived will not permit of any extensive operations. u In anticipation of. a falling revenue, the usual allocation of pheasants for liberation was somewhat curtailed. Your committee have had doubts for some time as to whether value has been received for expenditure in this direction. The prices paid for the birds were high, and. considering the toll taken of the young birds by their ever-increas-ing enemies, it was hoped that other game could be introduced, which, while still providing good sport, would be better able to stand up to the depredations of vermin. So far no solution L; s yet presented itself. Your committee would welcome an expression of opinion from members in this direction. “ License holders have had to rely mainly on grey duck to provide them with sport. These seem to be still holding their own but can hardly be said to bo on the increase. Fortunately our district is well provided with adequate sanctuaries and your committee is determined that these must be respected. During the year one case of shooting on a sanctuary was sheeted home and the offender made an example of by being heavily fined in the Court. The season for both imported and Native game will open this year on May I, that for native game closing on June 30, and for imported game bn July 31. The prospects for the season are favourable. Not a Menace. * l It is quite apparent that the removal of protection from deer in this district was quite uncalled for. They did not at any time create a menace, and as evidence of this, a notice appeared recently in our press on behalf of a number of property owners prohibiting shooting of deer on their holdings. As forecasted by this Society, the pursuit of deer is now mainly undertaken by irresponsible persons, over whom the society has no measure of control. This is an annoyance to property owners, and we feel sure they would welcome a return to former conditions, and the exercise of ranging supervision by the society. “ Weather and water conditions for trout fishing during the present season have been good, due to the frequent rains over the summer months, thus helping our fishing streams to retain their normal water flow. As previously pointed out, the Wanganui River beyond Parakino, can now be reached by car per the River Road, over Gentle Annie. This road is metalled to Koriniti, 30 miles from Wanganui, and there are some splendid fishing pools between Parikino and Koriniti. Several catches of brown trout were obtained in these waters during the season. “ The Tongariro River, in contrast to last season, has been in heavy flood several times since Christmas, and on March 22 the river was in exceptionally high flood, and much damage was done. Thousands of trout, mostly yearlings, were destroyed, being found stranded after the flood waters had receded. It is hoped that no permanent damage has been done to the several pools from the fishiug point of view, but since the flood a very large volume of water now passes direct from the Boat Pool through the vagrant channel on the western side to the Log Pool, down through the Stump Pool and Crescent, and the Log Pool is not receiving anything like the volume of water it was prior to the flood. Quinnat Salmon. “ As mentioned in last year’s report, your committee offered financial assistance to the Government if they would undertake the stocking - of the Wanganui River with quinnat salmon. The department expressed its willingness to co-operate provided there were no objections from societies controlling the upper reaches of the river. Unfortunately, these societies objected on the grounds that it would interfere with the trout fishing, and the project had to be dropped in the meantime. “ This attitude is difficult to understand as the quinnat has already found its way into the river and its presence is being reported in greater numbers each year. It will ultimately establish itself in these waters and your society’s proposals would only be anticipating to some degree what will later become inevitable. Good salmon fishing in one North Island river would purely be an acquisition to fishermen of these parts who could not afford the time and expense of a trip to the southern rivers. “ Following on our recommendation, a close season was observed for opossums last year, and reports to hand indicate that the respite has been of advantage. So far, no indication has been given as to whether an open or a close season is to be declared this year. “ Considering the low prices ruling for skins, your committee is of the opinion that nothing is to be gained from allowing trapping this year. The possibilities of this industry ultimately producing substantial revenue from otherwise- useless land should be kept in view. The control of this industry has been satisfactorily carried out by the societies in the past, and they are in the best position to undertake these duties again, provided they are allocated sufficient of the royalties to compensate them for the time and expenditure involved. “ The conference of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies’ Conference, 1932, was held in Wellington, on

October 12 and I 3» 1932, the president, Mr. L. O. H. Tripp, presiding, and there were present delegates from all associated societies. Mr. H. J. Duigan represented your society. i( The keynote of this conference was the earnestness and businesslike way in which the delegates advocated the necessity for conservation of our game and fish and the endeavour to have the Animals’ Protection Act so amended as to give, full protection, not only to game birds, but also to our native birds. “ A large number of remits from the several societies .were dealt with. Your society was successful in having two of its three remits passed by the conference, and the third remit, with regard to removing protection from magpies, was withdrawn pending particular instances being given and voucher for with regard to the depredations of these birds. Power Boats and Anglers. “ It is interesting to note that whilst the conference has on three occasions passed the Wanganui remit requesting that power-driven boats bo not allowed on the Tongariro River, as the presence of such boats is inimical to the best interests of anglers, yet the Government has not given effect to this recommendation on the grounds that the Tongariro River may be held to be a water highway for some distance from the delta. The Government, however, can, by a simple amendment to the Fisheries Act, take all the power needed for controlling the use of power boats, and this was pointed out by your delegate at the conference. “ Strong exception was taken by the delegates to the action of the Government in withholding a reasonable portion of opossum revenue from societies, considering that the societies had spent considerable sums in protectingopossum districts per medium of their paid rangers. “ The Wanganui remit that the Taupo fishing season be not opened before December 1 in each year instead of November 1, for the reason that during November recently spawned fish were still in the river, was carried by a large majority, but it was too late to alter the date of opening the present season. “ The past year has been difficult, and with the prospects in front of us for the current year there is not much encouragement for any forward move, especially with our limited scope. This again suggests the amalgamation of adjoining districts in order to obtain better results from depleted revenue. Your council recommends that, in the interests of license-holders, the incoming committee give further consideration to this matter. “In conclusion, your committee again expresses its sincere appreciation for the assistance and friendly co-operation it has received during the year from its many supporters, with particular mention of the Press and farmer friends throughout the district.”