OTAGO ANGLERS’ ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 22453, 25 September 1936, Page 5

OTAGO ANGLERS’ ASSOCIATION

'ANNUAL MEETING AND SMOKE SOCIAL The Otago Anglers’ Association met last evening for the annual meeting and smoke social, there being a large number of members present at both functions. ANNUAL MEETING* The president (Mr W. H. Wilson) ■was in the chair, and at the commencement of the meeting made reference to the death of Mr A. Spiers, speaking of the loss the association had suffered. A motion of sympathy with .the relatives was passed. . The Chairman moved the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, and it was adopted without discussion. , ~ Q In answer to an inquiry by Mr S. Medder as to who would derive the benefit accruing from, the imposition of an increase in fishinv licenses, the chairman stated that the position was as yet indeterminate, but he understood that 5s was to be expended equally between a more extensive ranger service and research work, the money being spent in . the district in which it was collected. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. An election of office-bearers for the ensuing year resulted: — President, Mr T Weir; past president. Mr \v. tlWilson; vice-presidents, Mr J. Rhodes and Mr J. Leckie: secretary, Mr R. Wilson; treasurer, Mr W. 1. Brailey; committee—Messrs J. Benfield, D. Hunter, W. Young, H. J Miller,„ W. Porter, J. Spiro, S. Raffills, R. Sise, C. Kenward, and S. Medder; auditor, Mr C. A. Wilson. CLOSING OF LEITH SUGGESTED. Mr T. Weir brought forward the subject of the closing of the Leith during the month of April, -stating that the Otago Acclimatisatiqn Society had approached the association for an expression on the matter. The opinion of Mr C. A. Wilson was that the closing of the water should be strenuously opposed. There were fash at that time of the year, and they would be poached if not caught by legitimate anglers. Air W. Griffiths supported Mr W ilson. Mr C. Arnold stated that the methods adopted by the fishermen were wrong. Closing the stream during April was the only solution of the problem. Finally it was agreed that the association was in favour of the regulation being left unchanged for the coming season, SMOKE SOCIAL. After the Royal toast had been honoured, Mr C. Arnold proposed the toast ‘ The Otago Acclimatisation Society.’ The two associations were on excellent terms, he said. Some of the past presidents of the Anglers’ Club eventually found themselves in the Acclimatisation Society ranks, and so the former club was assured of a good representation. Although the Acclimatisation Society dealt with both shooting and angling, its interest and furtherance of the latter sport was not lessened to ; any extent; he concluded. The president of the’ Acclimatisation Society ’ (Air G. E. Turner) returned thanks for his fine reception, and stated that his society was working for the benefit of angling in its entirety. It was, unfortunately, restricted in its endeavours in this respect by the Government—the Marine Department, and the Department of Internal Affairs—and many of its proposed schemes were curtailed. Regarding the raising of the price of fishing licenses, he said that some of the country districts thought this too great. It was to be utilised in good causes, ranging and research. The rangers had arduous duties to perform, and travelling difficulties were but the least of their troubles, beside which, the service was totally insufficient to cope with the work. They were obliged to instruct anglers in the correct, fishing methods, and, above all, instil- sportsmanship, into them. Another vexed question was the size of the fish, the regulation of which anglers must assist. He regretted to state that of 2,000 diaries' distributed for the purpose of determining the whereabouts of the large fish, only 120 had been returned. These were necessary for the definition of the reasons for various conditions. With all acclimatisation work being voluntary, he appealed to the club to give its co-operation. The Otago Association, he stated, had the, most detailed information in New Zealand among the societies. It had been found that natural reproduction had been more effective than artificial restocking. Fry was plentiful, and, the liberation process was to be discontinued for this season; It was proposed, he said, in conclusion, to transfer young fry from the smaller streams to those which were most consistently fished. “ The New Zealand Fresh-water Research Committee ” was proposed by Air S. H. Barnes, who requested better scale samples from the, anglers. The progress of the committee was most satisfactory, although the time was too premature for the findings to be divulged at present. Scientific investigation was, necessary, and-the committee was doing invaiuable work, which had given much estimable and long-desired information. Proof had been supplied by the Ballarat district committee and it demonstrated the benefit of science to the sport. Air AV. H. Parrott replied on behalf of the research committee. All the funds absorbed by research had been fully warranted, he said. Alore co-operation was necessary from every angler; scale material, temperatures, and height of water were of great assistance. Accuracy must be obtained in the data recorded, he stipulated, because the correctness and applicability of the conclusions formed rested upon it. The other toast of the evening was “ Sister Clubs,” proposed by Air W. H. Wilson, and responded to by Mr Scott Main (Oamaru Club). During the proceedings, an opportunity was taken by the, chairman to present the prizes won in the season just concluded. Items were presented at intervals by Messrs W. Haig. F., Haig, Black and Armstrong, J. Currie, A. Guyton, and D. Fogarty (songs); T. Stewart (musical item); J. Sutherland (piano accordian solos) ; and the two, Stewarts (mouth organ and tap dancing); and Denny and Alaaka (Alaori items). The accompanist was Air R. Hargreaves.