FISH RESEARCH.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5505, 25 November 1929, Page 2

FISH RESEARCH.

DECLINE IN TROUT. x LIBERATING OPOSSUMS. Reporting to the Acclimatisaion Society meeting at Matamata recently, Mr F. E. McKenzie stated that with Messrs. Gordon and Whitney he had attended the Wellington conference when it had been decided to institute a research into the causes of decline in trout fishing (says the Matamata Record). A committee had been set up and they had £2OOO a ytear to spend on the investigation. Wellington and North Canterbury had previously tackled the subject, but arh organisation to cover New Zealand was wanted, and this had been arranged for. The first suggestion of a 6b per cent, levy on revenue had been thrown out, as some sub-societies had no fishing, and it would be unfair to expect them to pay. Finally it was agreed that the cost of the investigation should be met by a levy of 20 per cent, on opossum revenue and, 10 per cent, on fish licenses. The Auckland quota was £2lO, and this had been sent to Wellington. The first meeting of the new committee would be held in Christchurch next week. The Putararu members, when asked for an expression of opinion by the chairman, stated that they thought the investigation was a vital one. Opossums. Continuing his report, the chairman stated that his society had been battling for permission to liberate opossums. At the moment it was illegal to liberate them, though if they crept in over the boundary it was all right. The society proposed to liberate opossums in such areas as the Te Aroha and Coromandel ranges, where they could do no harm. The income was estimated at £1 per acre. The license amounted to 4d a skin, which skin was worth 25s 6d. Wellington’s revenue from this source was well over £2OOO a year. They understood the Government report was in favour of liberation, as the opossum was a vegetarian animal, and trapping them would provide work for unemployed. If they ever became a pest they could be exterminated by cyanide of potassium quite easily, but they would never become a menace like deei’. They would be liberated only in isolated areas. Mr Whitney stated they were the most easily trapped of any animal, and the black opossum had the most valuable skin. The chairman stated that if permission was granted by the Government they proposed to sjfcnd £lOOO on getting a good breed. Shags and Pukekos. Touching on shags, the chairman stated that the Native Birds Protection Society were endeavouring to abolish acclimatisation societies as they held they were “killers and not preservers.” The society, of course, objected t o this, but they had agreed that pukeko and paradise duck should not be shot, as they were not sporting birds. In regard to the harrier hawk and shags, however, they disagreed, and held that both were pests. The society was now obtaining evidence as to the destruction caused by shags to trout, and would be glad if members could assist them. , Members present were unanimous that shags destroyed trout. Mr McKenzie was thanked for his valuable and interesting report.