ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11506, 12 February 1903, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

yiITTIXG TROUT IN LAKE EU.ES Ml-; RE.

A meeting of tho Council was held yesterday, when Mr J: B. Fisher presided. Thfl President reported what had been dnna at th<s conference of Acclimatisation Societies, held at Wellington; He said the Association felt that thfic was a l;irgo quantity of fish which was being iHe gall v ti'kon, .-ici that it would be in °the ii\t?re«ts of anglers and sport generally that the netting should be allowed to be carried oc under - restrictions, but that the Government should «c that these regulations were out strictly. He now moved —"'That the Society bs affiliates to the New Zealand Acclimatisation »Societies' Association, and ...ax. the secretary lie. instructed to forward the amount of fee."

•Mr Goo. King seconded the- motion, which was agreed to. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr fico. King, that a hearty vote of thanks b? accorded to the delegate, viz., the Fr«.sict#nt .nn<l Mr Ritchie. Mr Harm an rweneivtcd , a petition signed by voome thousand pewoiw against the granlin? of permission to net Lake Elle«----nvera for trout, for cale. The petition urged iiiflt if netting were allowed the fish in tha rivers near, would be entirely depleted. Some £BCOO had been invested in huts, boat*.. etc., for fishing, and the petitioners urged that oroly some f-even fisherman were on the lake, and these could not earn a living. Mr Harmsin moved—"That the petition be forwarded to the Governrami'.." The motion ■was ofuried." ■Mr Ritchie said that he had received irformation from the fishermen at Loke El'.esmere that they would soon ri.*<h tnc lake out. Hie President urged that 'if the Government agreed to this the netting should not go on at night. He hoped that at least twelve hours -would be .allowed for the fish to go up the river. It was resolved to recommend that the Lake should be closed for three years. Mr Ritchie moved that the Society take over the Waikuki reserve. Mr Palairet seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

On the motion of Mr Ritchie, it was resolved that the Society join with the Government in taking over the island in the Ahuriri Lagoon, as a eanctuary for native game. Mr King said the sub-committee could not recommend the erection of the curator's house, as proposed by the plane no\v before the Council. He thought the Council should arrange to meet Sir Joseph Ward on his arrival here, and put the matter before him. After some discussion it wae decided that the Council could not see its way dear to expend the money on a house on the cite, unless it had a permanent tenure. Mr King then moved—" That a deputation be formed to wait on Kir Joseph Ward, and ask that a permanent title be given to the Society over the grounds.' , Mr Edwards seconded the motion.

Mr Ritchie pointed out that the anglers would not take out any licenses if. the Society granted permission to ret Lake Klleetriore, and that meant a great diminution of the funds of the •Society.

Some further discussion ensued, a.nd ultimately it wan resolved that the matter stand over till Sir Joseph Ward had been approached Mr King's motion wns ngreed to, with the addition that the Government be asked to contribute towards the cost ot the curator's house and the fish hatcheries. Mtfsra Scott. King. Fisher a;nd Ritchie were appointed as the deputation. The Chairman called attention to the fact that eorne of the employees of the Selwyn County Council had used dynamite in 'connection with taking fish at tin* sluice gate at the Kowai vr.iter-race, aßvd move d—"That the matter I*s referred to the Inspector of Police." Mr Kins; seconded the motion, which was carried.

The report of the Garden Committee was read and adopted. The Chairman wizgested that it would be a good thine for the curator to be sent up to see the Masterton ponds. The Council then adjourned.