ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Press, Issue 14828, 20 November 1913, Page 10

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

MONTHLY MEETING. The nionrnTy meeting of tho Council of tho Canterbury Acclimatisation Society was held last evening, Mr W. H. Tisdall (vicepresident) being in the chair. The Minister of Internal Affairs wrote stating that magpies were protected throughout New Zealand. Mr J. Murehison, Lake Coleridge, wrote asking whether the Society would pay for shags' heads this season. Ho knew of a email r.okcry, and might try to destroy it. It was decided that in special cases la por head bo paid. . The Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs wrote asking if two-year-old trout could be supplied for experimental purposes at Itotorua. The secretary reported that a quotation for City hr.d been lorwarded. The Curator reported that 2<J.000 rainbow trout had been sent to Lake Selfe, and 30 000 had been placed in the raco to be kept till yearlings. The amount obtained from the contribution boxes for tho past month was Hs. ,-.._, The Garden Committee reported that tho South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society would take 5000 yearling trout, to bo delivered not later than next January. A request for yearling rainbow trout for Mount White was unable to bo complied with this year, but an endeavour would bo mado to forward some next year. The report was adopted. It was resolved, on tbe motion of Professor B'.unt, to accept tho offer of the Melbourne Zoological Society of peafowl, at £5 per pair, and it waa decided to send for two cocks and four hens.

Mr Shand said that at the Selwyn a large number of young trout had been taken out in bully nets, and left lying on the banks. BuLLies that were too small for bait wero also thrown out instead of being returned to tho water as feed for the fish.

Several members reported having caught fish that had boen marked the previous year, and some of them had increased one pound in weight. AH the fish had been caught in the same streams, where they were taken when marked.

Mr Cotton pointed out that the fact that several of the marked fish that had been caught were marked when they wore stripped, showed that stripping did not kill the fish as some had contended.

Dr. Anderson reported on behalf of the Deer Committee that the Ashburton Society had agreed to have another close season for their portion of tho Rakaia herd, and to have it culled. Mr Lucas, of Waraham Court, had offered to exchange four hinds for four hinds from the Rakaia herd. Dr. Anderson eJid ho had replied that the exchange would bo made if it were possible to capture hind calves in the Rakaia herd. Mr E. M. Cafiin was appointed a member of the Dccx Cominittc-e.