ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1546, 1 February 1879, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society was held at eight o’clock last night, at Oookson’s Commercial Hotel, there being present—fcir Cracroft Wilson (chairman), the Hon. J. T. Peacock, Dr. Frankish, and Messrs Hill, Blakiston, Boys, and Farr (hou. secretary). THE ANNUAL REPORT. The secretary read the annual report as follows : FIFTEENTH ANNUAL EFFORT. The Council have much pleasure in snhmitting the fifteenth annual report, with balance-sheet to 31sfc December, 1878. Nothing remarkable occurred during the year in the society's works until the trout hatching season commenced, the success of which has now passed every previous season, and far beyond onr most sanguine expectation, as will be shown hereafter. In February the society received 20,000 ova of the white fish (Coregonns albus) through the New Zealand Government, from America, hut we regret to state that only twelve were hatched out, out of which only eight survived. These were taken to Lake Coleridge and liberated in a small tributary by the chairman, bir Cracroft Wilson. In March last the Council deemed it advisable to appoint some person to prevent the unlawful destruction of game and fish, feeling assured that a considerable amount of poaching was being carried on. A gamekeeper was advertised for, and out of eighty-five applicants Mr David Douglas was cnosen. The Connell have every reason to believe he has been of good service, a fair sum having accrued by fines in the Magistrates’ Courts, stijl, through the district being of snch an extent, he is unable to achieve all that is necessary, and the Council trust that ere long they may be enable! to app"int another. The 2-10 young salmon remaining in the fishhouse from last season were liberated in the river Heathcote by the chairman, and during the year reports have been received of salmon having been seen and caught, and little doubt remains about their success, some having been taken twelve and fourteen inches in length, and sold among some front. Five hundred and twenty Californian quail have been purchased from Nelson during the year, liberated in various loc ilities, and are dicing well. In Septembc r last year your Connell resolved to send to EugHnd for another shipment of English game and insectivorous birds, an i t- secure if possible the services of Mr li. Bids for th it purpose, as be hadheeu very successful on former o masions. He wasacoordingly sent for from Victoria, and arrived on October 2nd, when final arrangements were made for a large number and variety, and your council would here acknowledge their obligations to the direct o-s of the New Zealand Shipping Company tor their very liberal engagement to give eliect to the interests of the society in this master.

For list of birds sent for see appendix. We now come to the final and most successful work of the year, viz., the hatching out and distribution of more than 21,000 fry of the brown front. It has proved to be an unparalleled season, and too great praise cannot he awarded to the curator, whose unwearied attention to and interest in the necessary labor, solely for the welfare of the society, has been most evident, and those whohuve been associated with him in the work have much pleasure in bearing testi ■ ouy to the fact. The numbers distributed, and the streams in which they were placed, will be found in the appendix, and although there have been a few partial failures through the hot north-west winds, on the whole the I’emovals have been very successful.

Correspondence with agents and others in America has been instituted, whereby the society may anticipate the arrival of a variety of suitable game and fish from California and the Eastern States, as also seeds of the sugar maple as well as of other ornamental and useful trees. The hearty thanks of the society are duo to Professor S. Baird, Commissioner of American Fisheries, and also to Livingstone Stone, Esq., for the groat_ interest taken in farthering the wishes of the society. Mr E. J. Creighton has also taken a great interest in procuring prairie chickens for the society, but owing to circumstances his efforts have proved unsuccessful. But steps have been taken which may prove a success next season. Our thanks, therefore, are due to him for what has been done. In conclusion, your Council express their regret at the apathy exhibited by the general public in the work undertaken by the society, of which the amount received for subscriptions can testify, and had it not been for licenses and fees the efforts of the society would have been thoroughly impeded, if not brought to a close. The society’s most hearty thanks are due to the railway commissioner, W. D. Conyers, Esq., and the railway manager, F. Back, Esq , for their very kind courtesy and arrangements for the transit of game and fish throughout the season. Thanks are also due to the railway employes generally for their assistance and attention, S. C. Fauu, Hon. Sec. The report was adop'ed unanimously. THE NEW COUNCIL. The following gentlemen were elected the council for the ensuing year : —Sir Cracroft Wilson, the Hon. J. T. > eacock, and Me srs Farr, Blakiston, Boys, Hill, Mnr.shman, Garrick Whitefoord, T ekland, and G. L. Mollish. Sir Cracroft'Wilson was re-elected chairman, and Messrs Frankish and Hoys vice chairmen. Mr Farr was reelected secretary and treasurer. THE SECRETARY. A very high tribute of praise was then paid to Mr Farr for th’ great interest be had always taken in the society, and he was unanimously elected a life member. Mr Karr returned thanks for the kindly feeling which had been expressed towards him, n id said the work in which ha was engaged in jjj .ection with the society was a labor of love.

GARDEN COMMITTEE. The following gentleman were elected a garden committee—Sir Cracroft Wilson, the Hon. J. T. Peacock, Dr Frankish, and Messrs Blakiston, Boys, Hill, and Farr, WHITEFISa. The secretary said he had received a telegram that afternoon from the Government saying that 1,000,000 whitefish ova would arrive in Auckland on the 12th proximo, of which there would he 250,000 for ihe Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. It was not yet known how they were to lie packed. The Chairman said he hoped that great care would be taken to transport them to Christchurch on their arrival PETITION, A petition, fignod by several fishermen, was read on the subject of fishing for trout with ground bait, and giving it as their opinion that all fishing ought to bo by natural or artificial fly, or natural or artificial fish, and that the system of which they complained was illegal The petitioners wished au Act passed on the subject to prevent such a state of things existing. Afte* some discussion the petition was referred to the Council. This was all the business, and the meeting adjourned.