ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Chronicle (Levin), 17 April 1946, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

OTAKI BRANCH MEETS The annual meeting of the Otaki branch of the Wellington Acclimacisation Society was lield recently. Quite an encouraging number oi license-holders were present, including four members of the Wellington council, namely Messrs.Boyes (chairman of the fish committee) , M. A. R. Jones (chairman of the game committee) , Wastney and Goodwin.

Officers were elected for tne ensuing year as follows: — Chairman. Mr.-C. C. Holmes; secreLary-treas-urer: Mr. H. G. Edhouse; delegate to Wellington council: Mr. C. C. Holmes; committee: Messrs. F. Thorpe, B. Rhodes, J. Taylor, H. Jepson, M. Wilson, G. Goulter and I D. Webster. > A most interesting address was given by Mr. Wastney on the new ponds that are being made at the Masterton hatcheries. The main object of these ponds was to have yearling fish to liberate instead of frv.

Mr. Wastney described how the ponds were built, and how the natural food was being provided by the fertilisa'tion of the water. This was done in exactly the same way a. the farmer did when he placed super-lime etc. on the land. The speaker pointed opt the advantage of the liberation of yearlings, showing how they had a much better chance of surviving than the fry. The nossibiiity of keeping "stock fish" to breed from was touched on. as well as many other new ideas of great -interest to fisnermen. Mr. Jones spoke on the game farm to bird life in general. He mentioned about the liberation of 70 pheasants in the Otaki district just a day or so previously, and also spoke on the mallard ducks. During an open discussion which followed, while everyone had sup'I per, many questions were asked and answered by the council members. Votes of. thanks were passed by the members of the council for having come all the way from Wellington to attend the meeting.