THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1882. THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2441, 1 February 1882, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1882. THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

This somewhat select body has presented a report of the proceedings daring tha year to its subscribers, who, judging from the attendance at the annual meeting, are also a very select body. On reading what has been accomplished in the cause of acclimatisation during 1881 by the society, as detailed in this document, one is struck by the wonderful paucity of anything useful. A large number of trout have been hatched out and put into our rivers, but it is now discovered by tho brethren of the angle that these trout become fat and lazy, and, while affording little or no sport to the fisherman, are also not remfti kabla for any delicacy of flavour for the table. This, therefore, can hardly be claimed as one of the triumphs of the society during the year. Besides, the trout has for some years past been established in the rivers, and very little now remains to be done except to stock those waters which are somewhat more remote. Therefore in the only item which, like Falstaff's poor halfpennyworth of bread, stands out conspicuous in the report, little or no credit is due to the society's operations during the year under review. It is true that a pair of deer have been received from Tasmania, but we very much fear that these will turn out to resemble the traditional white elephant so far as the society is concerned, and certainly for sport it will be many years ere this importation will be available. As to the LiSgnrian bees, which are stated, oddly enough, in the report to be steadily pursuing their labours amid all the pros and cons, whatever that may mean, opinions are considerably divided as to their utility. Grave charges are brought against these strangers that they do not care about illustrating in their own case the proverbial industry of the bee tribe, but rather prefer to . plunder from those who " gather honey all the day " as an easier mode of living. In this they have been detected. Hence the importation of these bees, which is another item of self-back-patting on the part of the society, is anything but an advantage to the colony in the estimation of a large number of people competent to give an opinion. We therefore cannot bat come to the conclusion that despite the report, the past year, so far as the advancement of true acclimatisation, has been a blank, and that the operations of the society during the same period would be most properly represented by the mathematical formula of X. T. The complaint is that the public do not support the society by becoming members, but the real cause of the present sad state—for it is all but defunct—is that the society has been made far too much of a clique for the benefit of a few. Its operations have been conducted upon an exceedingly narrow basis, instead of the broad one of the general interests of the public. The i people have not yet forgotten that memorable and almost historical remark of the Secretary, " The pnblic ! What do we care for the pnblic !" This gives in a few words an epitome of the policy which has brought the society most deservedly to the low ebb it now is. The interest of the public in it has gradually waned, until scarcely anyone is left but the gallant band of some half-dozen who formed the annual meeting last night. As we have shown from the report presented, its work for good during the year has simply been nothing. It has afforded a few well meaning and very estimable citizens an opportunity of enlarging their experience in the matter of fish culture, and perhaps the habits of some of the British birds, but this is all. One is naturally led to inquire, Is the game worth the candle ? Would it not be far better to dissolve the present little family party, and establish a good society upon a sound basis ? We think decidedly it would. Then we should stand a chance of acclimatisation being carried out, not for the benefit of the favored few, but the many, which we take to he the true end and aim. of such societies. Just one word as to the audacious—we can find no milder term—proposal of Dr. Flankish to impose a charge upon the public for entrance into the grounds. This is adding insult to injury with a vengeance. The public money, while it could be obtained, has been expended in a most lavish manner with but little result, comparatively speaking, and generally the gentlemen who compose the governing body of tha society have had what onr American cousins call " a high old time." Now because they find themselves pecuniarily in a corner from the reasons we have adverted to, they have the impudence to propose to raise a revenue to enable them to try & few more experiments such as the sparrows and Ligurian bees by charging the people for entrance into their own domain. We confess that for cool a«dacity the proposal of Dr. Frankish is without parallel. It is as refreshing as & view of an iceberg this warm weather. It is, however, comforting to reflect that no Government would ever dare sanction such an invasion of public rights as this. It would be resisted even were it for the purposes of a public society having for its object the general good of the community; how much more so, then, wh en a semi-private club—for that is what the Acclimatisation Society really is—asks for powers of this kind P Let the gallant six or seven who compose the society accept the inevitable, and do away with the present effete and moribund organisation, then a really strong society could be formed, and the cause of acclimatisation, which all must have at heart, efficiently served.