ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 215, 30 May 1918, Page 7

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

SPORT IN WELLINGTON DISTRICT

DEER AND FISH

The annual meeting of tho Wellington Acclimatisation Socioty was held in the Chamber of Commerce Inst night, Hie president (Xlr. I. 0. It. Trip!)) occupying tho.chair.

The annual report, which dealt generally with tho work of (ho year, mentioned that the receipt for tho financial year ended March 31, 1918, had been .£1502 12s. 7d., and the payments .CUTS 2s. 3d. The accumulated funds, less all contributions, amounted to .£1797 3s. 3d. Tho chairman, in moving tho adoption of tho report and balance-sheet, said tint tho financial position was satisfactory. Tho revenue from licenses had kept up well despilo tho war, but this stnte of affairs could not ho expected to continue. The sooioty hud benefited a groat deal by having military camps in tho district, many of the soldiors being sportsmen. Tho dtor-stalking season had been successful, and good heads had been secured. Tho ranger informed him that tho hoads in the hands of taxidermists

were the best seen for many yearr. Tliis was due to the shooting out of malformod heads, and the preservation of somo particularly good stags. During tlio yp-ar the society had turned out 815,500 trout fry. the Government was unablo to continue the supply of ova, and arrangemonts had been made therefore that the rangers should trap trout in tho district, and secure ova. It was hoped that this effort, which was now in progress, would be successful. The effort of the ranger to raise pheasants at tho Mastorton hatchery had not been successful. Sir. C. J. Reakes had raised a few pheasants at TrouthaiH, and au effort waa now being mado to breed some of the birds on Somes Island, where there wore no natural enemies lo canso trouble. The position with regard to opossums was still unsatisfactory. The Government had protected tho opossum, but it hail no power to regulate Ihoir killing. The rosult was that tho animals were becoming toD numerous in some diMriel.-s and an industry that might prove piuiilablo was remaining undeveloped. It was necessary that tho method as well as the time of killing should ho regulated. Iho opossums ought to bo iaken in the early winter, and tho use of Imps should bo regulated. Tho skins were of considerable valuo now, and he believed that ati important industry could be developed. Referring to game licenses. Mr. Iripg said he thought there should be a licence feo for tho killing of native game. Any ■person who had a gun shoiud bo required to hold a lieenso, in order that the Government might know the naino of every person who owned a revolver, pea-rifle, rifle, or gun. The licenses might be issued freo in the easea ot people who were killing rabbits. A matter requiring attention was the inereaso of perch in tho Tatthoremknn Biver and in Wairarapa Lake. Ihoro wero indications that the perch were driviii" out the trout, and some netting might be desirable. The chairman referred to tho oxcollont work done by tho society's staff. Somo members stated that opossums wero far too plentiful in tome parts of tho district. They were often killed by pi" dogs, and they had done some damago in orchards situated near bush areas. It was very desirable that powers should be provided for the regulated killing of the animals. Mr. W. 11. Field, M.P., stntea. that in Tasmania the opossums were allowed to bo taken only at a certain period of tho year, and the traps used had to be such as would not cause unnecessary

Mr E. J. C. AViOin said he would not liko to seo the porch trapped. As a mutter of fnct, tho porch- was a very good sporting fish, and it did not really coin polo with tho trout since it did not occupy fly water. Tho perch was a quick breeder, and it held possession of any waters it had once occupied. Sportsmen should realise that it was a fish worth going after. Some discussion took place on tho subject of gamo sanctuaries. Members stated that ninny property-owners had put sanctuary notices on their properties, whilo as a matter of fact privileged people were allowed to shoot their. The society had issued theso notices to people who applied for them. The society had thought it was getting mil sanctuaries, whilo tho truth was 'Jiat tho laud-owners were simply conserving shooting for themselves and their friends. Tho chairman Enid that the council would investigate the complaint. Mr. A. B. Low said ho thought the , society should watch the μ-ortli cure-' fully. These fish would drive the trout out altogether if given a ehiuice. Other members stated that the jierqh would not enter quick-running water, and did not really interfere with the trout. Perch and trout lived together in tho Karori reservoir. Tho perch required doad water. Tho report and Lulance-sheel were adopted. The following officers wero elected :— Vicc-nreaMoiilß, Mewrs. W. .It. Ueotham, A. J. Buthorford, L. G. Keiil. "B. liiddilortl, and A. .P. Lowe; membi-i ■* of council, Messrs. , .1. Brnssoll, S. (i. Nathan, ]•]. Seed. L. 0. 11. Tripp. 1' '.Vhitcloy, and ¥.. J. C. WilUn; auditor, ur. W. H. Wheeler. Tho chairman moved that tho society should uirge the Government to amend the Animals' Protection Act to provide for the killing of unossuma under proper conditione.

This motion was carried. Mr. C. H. Whitehead referred to tho "poft-villo nuisance." JIo that in {ho Mmmwatui district the lien of petrifies was on tho increase, and a grout deai of , pouching went on. The rifles wero a serious evil, and their use ought to 1)0 controlled in some way. Mr W. G. Tnlbot mentioned tho disregard to tho regulation limiting the number of ducks to be taken in a day by a sportsman, lfti said the limit «« not olwerved generally, and flome eftort should bo made to enforce it in order to prevent this complete disappearance ot tho liativu gnirtc. The pca-riflo undoubtedly caused a, great deal of trouble. Quite Binnlf boys were allowed to shoot indiscriminately with these weapons. Other matters were discussed belorc the meeting closed.