ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 894, 18 May 1903, Page 4

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this Society was hold at tho Masonic Hotel, there, being present : Messrs Aelnnd Hood (president), Price, Hansen, Dixon, Branson, Dewing, Williamson, Wall, Smith, Holden, Hodstone, Stracban, Watson, McLean, Lucas, and Gumming (secretary). Tho report stated that 100 licenses were issued during the year, not ro many as the previous season. Trout: 100,000 fry were procured, 50,000 having been donated by the Government and 50,000 by private subscription. The thanks of the Society were due to Mr Carroll for tho great intere: bhe took in the matter, and other gentlemen who contributed. Hares : Thirty hares were liberated at Waimata, Pakowai, and Mr Hood’s, and they are by all accounts increasing rapidly. The balance-sheet showed that tho year was started with a balance of .£lO 17s Oil. The total receipts were TOO 10s 9J, with more subscriptions to come in. Theru was a bahutco of A3S Is od in hand, and against that were liabilities amounting to JEIO 10s.

The President said that their revenue was TOO 10s 9d; they had a baiuueo of MS Is od left, and £lO 10s liabilities. He said ho thought that during the past year they had done more acclimatising than in any other year in the history of tho Society. Hares had been established on a fair basis, and they had the assurance of Mr Ayson that if they persevered they would succeed with fish. He bud himself seen a line trout in the MaDgatu. Ho proposed tho 'adoption of tho report and balance-sheet.

Mr Dixon seconded tho motion, which was carried. On the motion of Mr Dewing, seconded by Mr J. McLean, Mr Aeland Hood was unanimously elected President. Tho other officers were Vice-Presi-dent, Mr A. Dewing ; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr Cumming, ro-electod; Committee, Messrs J. R. Redstone, O. H. W. Dixon, Hanson, Clark, Monckton, McLean, Lucas, Sinclair, and Williams. Tho President said ho thought for tho next year they should make a special effort to stock the rivers with trout. They would want at least TSO, and he suggested that four gentlemen take different districts, each obtaining T2O, With that and with some trout from Government he was confident that they would yet succeed. Mr Dewing : You spoak of a good trial; how many thousand do you think would be a good trial ? The President : About 60,000. Mr

Ay3on strongly recommended rainbow ova, with hatcheries at what is known as Cooper’s Water Supply (Mr Gray’s property) or on Mr Barker’s, Both those gentlemen would be willing to give every facility. Mr Dewing said it would mean a great deal of expense to make such provision. Mr Ayson’s report was read, aud hearty votes of thanks were tendered to the Hon. J. Carroll and Mr Ayson on the motion of the President, seconded by Mr Bedstone.

Continuing, the President said that ho thought they must be guided by the expert in regard to fish. As to deer ho had formerly been opposed to obtaining deer, but now he thought he was wrong. Mr Williamson said that the red deer would all clear back to the good hill country. The President said oven if they did come on to the fiat he did not think there would be any cantankerous people to interfere with them. Mr Hutchinson had offered to give £8 and look after tho deer. Then thero wore good places, such as Mr Strachan’s and tho Waipaoa. To go in for deer meant giving up the idea of importing small birds. He feared that in a few years the flying garno would bo killed out. The pheasants were dying off from the poison laid for woasels, etc. Mr Dewing: What about our £lO for quail'? Tho President said that now ho would sooner have the TiO.

Mr Dixon thought the proposal to obtain deer was good, but he also thought they should obtain small birds, by which the number of licenses would be increased. There had been a decrease in licenses because there was less to shoot at. Mr Williamson wanted to know what class of bird was proposed. Mr Hansen said that wild geese would bo very suitable. Tho President aud Mr Williamson did not think that geese would stay, all geese being migratory with an inclination for the south.

After further discussion, the President moved that the committeo be recommended that the funds of the Society and anything to bo collected be used in establishing a trout hatchery and obtaining deer.

Mr Holden seconded tho motion, speaking in favor of trying trout. Mr Dixon proposed that birds be included. Tho President: That would amcuut to a negative. Tho Secretary said that ho had written asking that either the .£4O sent for the purchase of quail be returned or the quail sent.

Mr Holden said that ho intended to construct a hatchery at his place, which was very suitable, so that if they had not the funds there would still be an experiment.

An amendment proposed by Air Dixon, seconded by Mr liedstone, was carried to include birds in the recommendation. The President said he thought that would put an end to the deer proposal.

Mr Dixon said he hoped not; he was not opposed to obtaining deer. The President said they could not get two loaves for the price of one. If thev securcd ihe .£'4o sent for quail it would alter tho position.