ACCLIMATISATION

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXX, Issue 8444, 25 March 1933, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION

ANNUAL MEETING OF WAIHI CLUB PAST YEAR’S OPERATIONS LOSS OP TROUT FRY The annual meeting of the Waihi Acclimatisation Club was held in Mr E. A. Wilson’s dental rooms on Thursday evening, Mr W. H. Johnston, president, in the chair. There were also present Dr. L. R. Hetherington and Messrs E. H. Payze, A. H. Sparke, W. Dean, G. R. Cullen, J. Mair, J. Weedon, G. Zenovich, Thomas, Wallace, Osborne, Bennett and G. A. Nisbet (hon. secretary). SECRETARY’S REPORT

The secretary’s report stated that the most important work undertaken j during the past year was the building , on Mr Otto Bjerring’s farm of a con- ' crete pond for the rearing of trout ( to stock the district streams. This , work had been carried out very efli- ' ciently by Messrs Bjerring, Payze, Wilson and Cullen, and the parent body, the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, had generously contributed £7 10s towards the cost and also supplied 5 000 trout fry to stock the pond. In a report on the pond, Mr Wilson had stated that of the original number of fry received at least half had died. This was possibly due to the newness of the concrete but there was some doubt as to the cause. As soon as completed, the pond was filled with water, which was allowed to run through it for ten days, after which it was emptied and scrubbed out thoroughly before the fry were put in. For the first month the fry were fed on grated boiled liver and after this were given only curds. In January it was noted that the fish were diminishing and as there were no dead ones on the floor of the pond it was concluded that the larger fish were eating the smaller. In February the numbers were falling so rapidly that it was decided to liberate the balance and about 250 fish were netted, of which 150 were put in the upper Ohinemuri stream and 100 in the Whangamata stream. Quite a number of the fish had grown to four inches in length during the five months the club had held them. The club’s thanks were due to Mr Bjerring and his manager, Mr Modsen, for their attention to the fry as without their help and co-operation the scheme could not have been carried out. FISH AND PHEASANTS Proceeding with his report the secretary stated that a consignment of trout ova had been brought to the district by Mr Howarth and had been planted in the Queen creek. Mr Payze had visited the nests a few days later and had found the ova hatching satisfactorily. A consignment of 22 pheasants, which arrived on March Gth, had been found to bo a very poor lot, comparing very unfavourably with the birds raised by local breeders. These birds had been placed under the care of Mr Birchall. Since its last annual meeting the club’s chief ranger, Mr Routledge, ’ had died as the result of a motoring accident and his passing would be | deeply regretted by all acquainted 1 with him as he was a most courteous and efficient officer. The club had also suffered the loss by death of ’ a vice-president, Mr J. MacDonald, to whose widow a letter of sympathy J had been sept. Following the usual ’ custom inquiries had been made from settlers in different parts of the ’ district as to whether the pheasants had been increasing or otherwise and the.general opinion was that ' there had been a definite increaes, accounted fop by the prohibition of ' shooting over several properties. 1 Visits of inspection had been paid to the localities where the majority of last year’s birds had been liberated and to the breeding pens of Messrs Osborne, Walters and Zenovich. The young birds had been found to be much superior to those supplied by the parent society, some of those on Mr Osborne’s property being fully three-parts grown. SUCCESS WITH OVA

Mr Payze, reporting on behalf of the Trout Committee, said that the ova planted showed, on the occasion of a subsequent visit, considerable activity, and the per centage of hatchings was very satisfactory. The chairman said the report was very gratifying. The questioiy ipf planting ova had in latter years attracted more attention amongst acclimatisation societies, and there appeared to be a consensus of opinion that planting was more satisfactory than liberating fry owing to the largs per centage of losses amongst the latter. He thought that when the time came round for planting ova it would be advisable to arrange for a good supply. Referring to the arrival last week of ypung pheasants from the Auckland Society, Mp Dean said he- haj} never seen such a wretched looking lot of birds.

Mr Sparke, who had also seen the consignment, said tire birds were little more than skin and bone, while the locally raised birds wore in splendid condition.

Another member, after examining them, said he did not think they would survive after they had been liberated, apd the chances of their living in captivity were alsg remgte. In reply to a question by tha chairman it was gathered that Mr Birchall, a local raiser of pheasants, was prepared to look after the birds until August, when the shooting season was over, at a charge of £1 per month or a total charge of £4. After some discussion it was decided to liberate the birds and possibly purchase a few from local raisers. For the information of the meeting Mr Zenovich stated that the number of young pheasants a vailable from Ihc different local raisers would be in the vicinity of 70, and for the most part they were stronger and better birds than he had seen for a long time. THE COMING SEASON

After further discussion on the report the following resolutions were carried: (1) That the work of the Trout Committee be continued next season, the secretary to apply for 5000 fry next spring to restock the holding pond. (2) That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded the Trout Committee for the time and trouble

expended in the interests of Ute club during the past year. (3) That the young pheasants now under Mr Birchall’s care be liberated, the distribution and localities to be left to the incoming emergency committee. (4) That the Auckland Acclimatisation Society be asked for a grant pf £5 towards the purchase of locally bred pheasants, the amount to be subsidised on a £ for £ basis by the club and augmented by a voluntary levy of 5s per member. The report was then adopted.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS Officers for the ensuing yeaf were elected ag follows: Preside!]):, Ml Wh. Johnston; vice-presidents, Messrs E. A. Wilson, B. H. Payze, 0. Bjerring and Dr. L. R. Hetherington; general committee, Dr. Hetherington, Messrs J. Wcedon, W. Dean. A. H. Sparke, B. H. Payze, G. R. Cullen and Thomas; trout hatchery committee, Messrs Payze, Cullen, Wilson and Bjerring; emergency committee, Messrs Johnston, Wilson, Sparke and Nisbet; secretary and treasurer, Mr G. A. Nisbet. On the motion of Mr Payze, seconded by the chairman, a vote of thanks to the secretary (Mr Nisbet) for his past services and the keen interest he had taken in the affairs of the club was carried by acclamation. A vote of thanks was also accorded to Mr Bennett. The following new members were elected: Messrs Zenovich, Osborne, .Wallace, Mair, Allen and Rae.