ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1852, 29 January 1880, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Acclimatisation Society took place on Wednesday, at Oookson’s Commercial Hotel. Present—Sir Cracroft Wilson (in the chair), Messrs J. O. Boys, T. Acland, A. Dempster, J. Garland, M. Stoddart, E. Oogan, F._Pearce, T. Saarell, B. Searell, Bridges, A. Eedmayne, F. W. Hunt, Charters, A. Burnett, W. Burnett, Dr. Frankish, J. Nicoll, Major Cunningham, Dr. Campbell, Newby, Greenwood, Longden, and S. C. Farr, hon. secretary. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Treasurer read the balance-sheet for the year 1579, by which it appeared that the receipts were £1785 2s 9d, and the expenditure £1461 12s 9d, leaving a balance of £323 10s. On the motion of Mr J. 0. Boys, seconded by Dr. Frankish, the balance-sheet was adopted. Dr, Frankish read tho annual report as follows: The council have much pleasure in submitting the 16th annual report for tho year ending December 31st, 1879. Tho annual general meeting of the society was held at the Commercial Hotel on February Ist, when the annual report and balance-sheet were read and adopted. A telegram bad been received that afternoon by the secretary from the Colonial Secretary’s office, Wellington, stating that 250,000 white fish ova were en route via ’Frisco and Auckland for Lake Coleridge, the Government requesting the society to make all preparations to receive, batch, and transmit them to the Lake. Every preparation was made at considerable expense to the society, but owing to some mishap in America, the ova did not arrive. On February IGth, 17 prairie hens (Tetrao onpido, pinnated grouse,) were received from Topeka, Kansas, through B. J. Creighton, Esq , San Francisco. Twenty-eight of these birds were originally captured, but three died on the way from Topeka to ’Frisco, six died during the passage from ’Frisco to Auckland, and two between Auckland and Lyttelton, It was the first time that prairie hens bad arrived alive in ’Frisco, owing in a measure to the great difficulty in procuring these birds. Therefore, great public interest was created by the event, it being a fact that they seldom live in confinement. The experiment so far had proved a great success, and it was felt that, should they arrive safely in New Zealand, the feat in acclimatisation would be unrivalled. Leaving San Francisco by the mail steamer, they were placed in charge of the butcher, who gave every attention to them on the voyage, in view of which your council voted him a gratuity. Upon their arrival at Auckland, Dr. Hector, who happened to be there, kindly bad them transhipped to the Hinemoa, and placed them under the charge of Mr Burton, taxidermist to the Wellington Museum, who faithfully carried out bis mission, landing them in excellent condition. No doubt great praise is duo to all those who had attended ;o them during their transit, but especial notice should be taken of the admirable care and provision made, especially with respect to cages, by Mr Creighton, to whom the hearty_ thanks of tho Society arc justly due. A special meeting was convened to consider the most desirable place for turning them out, and after a lengthy discussion upon several localities, it was decided to liberate them on the estate of J. T. [Brown, Esq. near Mt. Thomas, who kindly consented to secure the beat place on his property, and guaranteed that they should get plenty of gran food. Thither they were taken, and liberated by the Curator on Thursday, February 28th. The Prairie hens are naturally very timid birds, consequently little has been seen of them since they were turned out, hut there is reason to believe that they are doing well, and being one of the most prolific of the grouse tribe, your council trust that ere long they will multiply and spread throughout tho whole country. Mr Creighton, after paying all expenses for this most valuable introduction of game birds, acknowledges a goodly balance of funds in hand, with which he proposes procuring mountain grouse and other game birds from tho Sierra Nevadas. In a letter received from Professor Baird, Washington, he suggested that the common quail and the great sage cock, which might be obta-ned from the Californian States, ■would he useful and suitable birds for our climate, and your Council hope that their successors will not lose sight of this suggest ion. In January about 200 pairs of Australian miuahs were purchased from Mr Bills, and liberated in various localities. As they are a somewhat hardy bird little doubt is entertained of their doing well, and your council trust they may prove what they have been represented to be—a very useful bird. The robin redbreast and siskin have also been received and liberated, and the old familiar shrill note of the former may be heard in the Society’s grounds morning and evening. Although the introduction may_ savour of sentiment, the robin is unquestionably a useful bird. The siskins have taken up their quarters in the plantations round Hagley Park, and it is to be hoped that they may not be disturbed by the wanton youth frequenting these retreats. It may he mentioned that one nightingale arrived at the same time as tho robins and siskins if only to chronicle the fact that such birds can he successfully brought out, and so encourage tho hope that we shall, ere long, listen with delight to the notes of the sweetest of songsters in this our adopted land. We regret to say that through an unnatural moult this bird has since died. “ Hares and pheasants were found moderately plentiful during the past season, providing some good coursing and shooting for sportsmen. “ The breeding and liberating of trout this last season has been most successful, _ about 35,000 having been turned into the different streams of the Canterbury district ; 7900 have been purchased for private waters, the remainder di-posed of gratuitously. Your council believe that the success in hatching out to Urge a nu über of trout is owing in a great measure to the Indefatigable care and interest taken by the acting curator, and to show their appreciation of his efforts they unanimously voted him a gratuity of £25. Nothing has been heard of the salmon during the past year, and your council are of opinion that net fishing in the estuaries, which is allowed by licenses issued at the Customs’ Office for the Government will greatly militate against their increase, render all trouble and expense futile, and exrel our cherished hopes of establishing this valuable and far-famed fish.

Your council are aware that it may seem hard to curtail the privileges of some few who obtain their livelihood by fishing with nets in these waters, hut they venture to suggest other places for fishing, where the salmon would not be disturbed, viz., the flats in the several bays of the Peninsula. Yonr council trust that the Government will see fit to prevent fishing in all the estuaries until the salmon have had a fair chance of establishing themselves. The various streams in the district seem to he now well stocked with tront. verified in the number taken by anglers this season, for which sport 135 licenses have been issued up to the end of the financial year. Yonr Council hope before the next fishing season comes round to have a stringent co '0 of by-laws framed to prevent every kind of illegal fishing. Francis Francis, Esq-, one of the best authorities in England, has been communicated with upon the subject, and no doubt, from the very great interest he takes in such matters, he will supply the Society with the necessary information. During the year various seeds have been received from Mr Meehan’s establishment in Philadelphia, and distributed among the subscribers. Although the arrival of each consignment was duly notified in the local papers, few applications were made, and it is to be regretted that so little anxiety has been shown by the public to obtain such seeds, as a wider distribution could not fail to have proved in the future of incalculable beneat to the col ny. A list of those received will be found elsewhere.

A small parcel of buck wheat was presented to the society by Mr Edward Strange, of Christchurch. for which the thanks of the society are due. It is a valuable food for game, and your council hope from the crop now growing in the gardens that they will be able to distribnto seed among those subscribers who care to cultivate it.

Your council have every reason to believe that the gamekeeper has been doing good service in the protection of game and fish within the district, in proof of whieh a reference need only be made to the number of cases brought by him before the Resident Magistrate’s Court for the violation of the Protection of Animals Act, although the amount of fines imposed for such infringements have been in themselves a mere trifle. In view of these prosecutions, and of the preservation of imparted game and fish, your Council earnestly urga that every opportunity should be seized to check poaching and other unsportsmanlike practices. 1 trough correspondence received from the society's agent io London (Walter Kcnnaway, Esq), your Council are informed that Mr B,

Hills, with a large number of birds, in tho ship Waimate, may be expected about tho latter part of February or tho beginning of March. His arrival, and the result of bis mission, will bo anxiously looked forward to. Your council regret to report that the subscriptions during the past year amount only to .£ls 11s.

Should this lack of support on the part of the public continue tho operations of the society must he considerably curtailed, and its usefulness Biliously impaired. Yonr council however cherish the hope that the public will during the coming year cheerfully av.d liberally contribute to the funds of tho Society, so as to enable them to procure further shipments of American fish and birds. In conclusion, your council wish to convey tho sincere thanks of tho society to tho following gentlemen for their very kind assis lance and interest taken in matters connected with acclimatisation in this district:— Walter Kennaway, Esq , as treasurer and agent in London. W. D. Conyers, Esq , Commissioner of Bailways. F. Back, Esq., General Manager of Bailways. K. J. Creighton, Esq , as agent in San Francisco. The employes on the railway for their interest in and care of consignments entrusted to them. Special and hearty thanks are duo to the directors of the New Zealand Shipping Company for their very liberal terms for Mr Bills’ passage to and from England, and the accommodation granted for the birds on hoard their ship Waimate. S. C. Fake, Hon. sec. and treasurer. January 28th, 1880. Beferring to the report, Dr. Campbell spoke on the question of the protection of the salmon in the estuaries; He believed a subcommittee had been appointed to bring the question of the protection of the young salmon before the Government. He should bo glad if tho secretary could inform him what had been the result of that sub-com-mittee’s appointment. The Secretary read the sub-committee’s representations to the Government, which extended as far back as Nov., 1878, to which no reply had been received. Mr Boys said no sub committee had been in existence since the arrival of the American salmon.

Dr. Campbell said that could not be the case, as he had his notes upon the matter still. He should be glad if pressure could he brought to boar in tho matter for tho protection of the young salmon. Surely the Government would bo willing to protect what they imported. Mr Charters moved and Dr. Campbell seconded, the adoption of the report as road. Tho motion was agreed to. Tho Secretary rend a statement of the distribution of young trout, which has already been published. The quantity sold amounted to 7900, and freely distributed 26,925. Mr Stoddart said he thought 90 per cent, of the trout distributed were wasted by want of preparations being mode in the streams for their reception. A great number had been placed in the Heathcote river, and the majority of themwere destroyed by their natural enemies —tho silveries and other fish. They were put in the open water far too young, and the remedy for the evil complained of was to allow them to arrive at greater maturity. There was not the slightest hope of trout of from lin. to l£in. long living under the present system of placing them in the open rivers so young. He believed if 500 young trout were put in the Heathcote river now, before long there would not bo five left. They would bo destroyed by the eels and silveries. Dr. Campbell agreed with Mr Stoddart’s remarks, and considered ho had given very valuable suggestions which were worthy the attention of the council. Mr Acland believed that the silveries only existed in the Heathcote river, and wore not found in the anow-fed rivers at all. Mr Stoddart said this was a mistaken idea, there were plenty of the silveries in the Molyneux river. It would be worth while corresponding a little for the purpose of obtaining some authentic information on this point. The Secretary read a statement of the present quantity of stock of all descriptions in the Society’s Gardens. Tho election of the council for tho ensuing year was then proceeded with, with the following result:—Sir Cracroft Wilson, Stoddart, Boys, Hon. J. T. Peacock, Farr, Marshman, Oarrick, Bridges, Cogan, Anderson, Webb, and Charters. On the motion of Mr Charters, a vote of thanks was passed to tho retiring council. Dr. Campbell moved a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was carried unanimously. Dr. Frankish moved a cordial vote of thanks to tho honorary secretary, Mr S. O. Farr, for the very valuable services he had rendered to the society. Mr Boys had much pleasure in seconding the motion. In putting the resolution to tho meeting, which was carried unanimously, tho Chairman endorsed tho remarks made by tho mover and seconder. Tho Secretary reported that tho subscriptions for the current month exceeded the total of the past year. This terminated the business of the annual meeting, and the appointment of officers was deferred until the first meeting of the council. The meeting then adjourned.