ACCLIMATISATION MATTERS IN TAIHAPE DISCUSSED

Wanganui Chronicle, 9 November 1949, Page 8

ACCLIMATISATION MATTERS IN TAIHAPE DISCUSSED

Visit Of Wellington Council Members

TAIHAPE. Tuesday (O.C.).—Five members of the council of the WelWellington Acclimatisation Society visited Taihap e on Monday to discuss with the local branch some of the problems affecting licence holders. Mr. J. F. Thurston occupied the chair until the arrival of the president, Mr. J. H. T. Duncan, who was unavoidably detained for a short while. Mr. Thurston extended a welcome to the visitors, his remarks being endorsed later by Mr. Duncan. The following members of the coun-, cil were present: Messrs E. Hemingway (chairman of the committee), V. E. Hampson Tindale, A. D. Head (secretary), T. Andrews (ranger), W. S. R. Jones (chairman of the game committee, Wellington). Among the matters discussed were the question of liberating brown trout yearlings in the Hautapu, the release of chuker in the district, pollution of streams by sawdust, sewerage., sheep dip, etc, the ranging of local , iters, paradis e duck, the fencing of lakes, lagoons and swamps, fishing diaries, poaching and other problems. FISHING DIARIES. Mr. Hemingway explained that the council was endeavouring to get as many diaries as possible, as it was necessary to gain information in regard to the carrying capacity of streams and whether they needed restocking. Diaries also gave other data that was vitally essential to the society, he said. Wellington, wilh .04 per cent., was at the bottom of the list In regard to th e handing in of fishing diaries. It was unfortunate that the Wellington district had not co-operat-ed with other districts in this respect. “You need not be afraid that the information you give will be used by others lor their own private gain," he said. There had been no efforts made to reduce the limits or the size of the fish, explained the speaker. Mr. Hemingway asked members if they were prepared to Keep diaries and several replied that they already had diaries, but added that their diaries contained very few entries. A member: Why don’t they ask for the weight of the fish? Mr. Head explained that they carried a sliding scale amt worked out the average weight. A voice: Every fish carries a sliding scale. (Laughter). Mr. Hemingway thanked Taihape members for lheir good work in regard to the liberation of fish. He added that they would be compensated lor any expense involved. A member pointed out that a lot of fry had been liberated, but the results were unsatisfactory. He thought that yearling fish should be liberated instead of fry. H e thought the Hautapu was one of the best in the North Island for trout. Mr. K. Mulvay spoke in a similar strain. LIBERATION OF FISH. Mr. Andrews thought that different methods of liberation should be followed and more fish should be held in th e hatcheries and liberated in March and April. Mr. Hemingway said that the number of yearlings raised at the hatch-

i eries last season exceeded 30,000. Taihape would receive its allocation, as in the past. He explained that Mr. Andrews was trying to stock the Taihape rivers with the best type of fish. Replying to a question, Mr. Hemingway said that 2 per cent, of fry survived. A licence holder: If the big fish wer e not there to eat the small fish, and the eels were non-existent, and if ther e was no drought, and if , the survival rate would be much higher. Mr. W. A. R. Jones said that a lot of work had been put into the game farm, which contained modern facilities. Mr. J. B. Thomasen asked why pheasants were not kept till after the shooting season. He suggested that chuker should be brought here. Mr. Jones replied that feed was hard to get and it was impossible to keep them. He said in regard to chuker that the society was not allowed by the Government to import these birds. Mr. Mulvay: We were offered chuker from overseas. It is not importing. It is a gift. PARADISE DUCKS. A voice: There are more paradise ducks than sheep in this country, and we should be allowed to shoot more than 10. Mr. Jones: If you apply to the council for a permit it will be granted. PO7XUTION OF STREAMS The chairman, Mr. J. H. T. Duncan, raised the question of the pollution of streams, especially by sheep dips emptying into creeks. The sawdust nuisance had also to be taken into account. Mr. W. Butterworth: I saw a creek bottom which was a dirty yellow colour. It was an ideal stream for spawning fish. Dip was turned into the stream in April and October and it killed the fish. Th e secretary (Mr. L. L. McMillan) suggested that a special meeting of honorary rangers should be held to discuss the matter with Mr. Andrews when he re-visited Taihape in the near future. Mr. J. Gilchrist suggested that an honorary ranger should be appointed for the northern territory. POACHING. Mr. Hampson Tyndale said that members should not be reluctant to report those who indulged in poaching. ■ , ‘‘Most of us have poached at some time on our lives, but we now have a different outlook on things, and 1 believe most poachers could b e converted if spoken to in the right way,” he said. Mr Duncan: If we can get help from the council in this matter we will be well satisfied. Mr. Hampson Tyndale’s reply is just what we wanted. Ranger Andrews: With the exception of one case of dynamiting, the Taihape district has a very clean record. Mr. Duncan: Ther e are one or two more we would like to catch poaching. Of course there is a certain amount of spearing going on, but some licence holders do not like to return without fish.