FUR AND FISH

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 55, 2 September 1926, Page 4

FUR AND FISH

* ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETIES' CONFERENCE ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Tho fifteenth conference of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Association was continued yesterday, Mr. L. O. H. Tripp presiding, and most of the business was put through with commendable speed, apart from one or two big questions, elsewhere reported. During the afternoon Mr. Heffiord, the Marine Department's biologist, attended the conference and answered a number of question of interest to the various local societies represented. Much of the matter was of a technical nature, and Mr. Hefford's replies were hampered by the fact that he is not yet familiar with all the varying conditions in New Zealand. He made it plain, however, that the keeping of records of various kinds was essential to progress, and amongst these he attached great importance to the temperatures of rivers and receiving seas as deciding whether the rivers would be suitable for salmon and other fish. Mr. Hcfford was heartily thanked for his attendvca. • Amongst remits passed were:— "That this conference considers the time is ripe for concentrating on the introduction and acclimatisation of tho English, French, and Chukor partridge, and that all societies throughout New Zealand wherever there are large areas of cultivated land, such as turnips) grain crops, clover and grass, bo invited to co-operate in the importation and acclimatisation of these valuable game birds." (Auckland.) "That the Government be asked to revert back to tho system of carrying all game birds for acclimatisation and re-stocking purposes free by rail; if this is not practicable to charge at the rate of 6d per package for any distance." (Auckland.) "That decoys be limited to 25 within an area of 100 yards square." (Waimate.) "That the Government be asked to remove the protection on hawks, stoats, weasels, polecats, and ferrets, except in rabbit-infested districts." (North Canterbury.) "That all acclimatisation societies in New Zealand be invited to co-operate in the destruction of the hawk by offering a reward of 6d per pair of feet, and that the Eotorua Acclimatisation Society, under the control of the Government, be asked to actively assist in destroying these pests and advertise that tho Tourist Department, Eotorua, is paying" Gd per pair feet. Note.— It is generally considered by farmers and poultry breeders that tho hawk kills many young lambs by first picking out the eyes and is most destructive to poultry and game birds, especially during the nesting season." (Auckland.) "That the Government be requested to add the words 'her' and 'eggs' to Section 40, subsection D of the Animals Protection and Game Act, 1921, to read as follows: 'Eobs or destroys the nest of "any bird or has in his or her possession eggs of any bird to which this Act applies.' " (Auckland.) '' That some of the money held by tho N.Z.A.S. Association for the importa tion and acclimatisation of game be expended on the importation and acclimatisation of English snipe.''—(Feilding., "That the Government be requested to authorise the charging of increased foes for fishing licenses to non-residents in the Dominion."—(Wellington.) "That fishing licenses to residents of New Zealand be invalid unless issued in the district in which the holder tosides."—(North Canterbury.) '■'That to avoid annoyance caused to fly fishermen by trolling boats trolling close in shore, regulations be passed prohibiting close in shore trolling or spinning within 300 yards of all rive mouths, that no trolling be allowed within 50 yards of tho shore between Waipahi and the Southern Point of the Four Mile Bay, AVharewaka Point on Lake Taupo. This part of Lake Taupo being the only available placo where fly fishing is available nearby Taupo. Also that no lure other than the artificial fly be used in or within a radius of 300 yards of any river running into or out of the lake with the exception of tho Waikato River- at Toka'anu and Taupo.''—(Auckland.) "That acclimatisation socif tips' rangers should have the right to search parcels in transit in <j •>.-•.■ s under the Fisheries Act, similar to the power given under the Animals Protection and Game Act, 1921-22."—(North Canterbury.) "That the necessary powers be obtained by acclimatisation societies to institute prosecutions for pollution of rivers whereby fish may bo deleteriously affected or destroyed."—(North Canterbury). "That the Government be requested to institute experiments on young trout fry to ascertain whether the effluent from milk factories kills the fry. and to point out that it is known that the trout feed on the curd or thick milk from the milk factories but it is tho effluent from the factory that kills the fish —not the curd. In Australia there is an Act in force which prohibits the milk factories discharging into any rivers or streams." —(Auckland.) "That there be a general close season for opossums every third year."— (Southland.) "That the use of power boats and launches for chasing and taking native game bo prohibited."—(Auckland.) "In all cases of conviction of the illegal "taking of trout, that in addition to tho fine imposed for the offence, a further penalty of 5s per fish be inflicted for those taken."—(North Canterbury.) "That tho Government bo asked to prevent any person or persons from acquiring sole fishing rights over any river or portion of a rivor in Now Zealand to the exclusion of license holders.'' —(Feilding.) "That no fishing with rod and lino bo allowed within two (2) chains along ,tho sea shore of either side of the mouth of any river where it joins tho sea, without tho holding of a fishing license." "That the Government bo requested to prohibit launches or boats approaching nearer than 50 yards of the edge of Taupo Lake when trolling for trout with spoon or minnow."—(Auckland.) "All fishing nets other than whitebait or landing nets to bo compulsorily registered.''—(Southland.) "That the Government be asked to issue regulations for the taking of salmon."—(Southland.) "That the introduction of salmon in New Zealand rivers be considered."— (Hawkes Bay.) "That the regulations ' under the 'Fisheries Conservation Act' be consolidated." —(North Canterbury.) ELECT .ON OF-OFFICERS. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr. L. O. H. Tripp; vice-pre-sident, Mr. C. A. Whitney; committee, W. Cook (Auckland). F. J. Dargaville (Hobson), E. F. Stead (North Canterbury), C. P. M. Butterworth (Otago), J. Gilkison (Southland), G. N. M'lntosh (Wellington), H. J. Duigan (Wanganui), L. B. James (South Canterbury), M. T>\ H. Stoekwell (Feilding), E. ■T. C. "Wiffcß (Wellington), and Alfred Brown (Taupo).