EXCELLENT SPORT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10291, 28 May 1919, Page 2

EXCELLENT SPORT

WITH HOD AND GUN ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY'S REPORT. Excellent sport with rod and gun i recorded in the thirty-fourth annual y :>ort of the Wellington Acclimatisatio, Society, j With regard to red deer stalking, th report states that the season opened oi April Ist, and will close on May Slsl. No new country was opened, but stalker are numerous, and euort m good, 33 licenses being issued prior to April Ist and at the end of that month 109 hac been taken out. It ’is estimated the little more than 50 per cent, of heads taken are in the taxidermists' hands. Among good pointers secured were the following ;—One 17-pointer, at Ruami lianga; one 16. two 13, and twelve 12oointers at Tq Awaitej two IS and four 12-pointers at White Rock; one 13-yointe. at Kawhatau: and twelve 12-pointers at Hnurangi. A total of 95 ten-pointers and over was secured. „ TROUT REARING. The trapping operations for the 1918 season, made imperative by the withnrnwnl of the Government establishmen at Hakataramea from the business o. supplying brown trout ova to Acclimatisation Societies, were duly carried out. Work commenced on May 14th. and continued into July repeated beity; floods carried away all traps three time; in the Wairarapa, and four times in the Rangitikei stream, the strong our-l-ents prevented the use of nets, and the trapped fish in the holding ponds were o badly knocked about that a numbe had to bo released. The staff, in spit ,f heart-breaking experiences, stuck t< the task, and eventually about 351.(Nv brown ova was secured, throe-fourth of the whole being taken from the Waipoua river. The curator is of opinio that though tho fish do not average a well ns those stripped up to fifteen year -’go, still, if the weather permits their to run this season, the result should b' satisfactory. In addition to 531,000 brown ova co) looted, 150,000 rainbow ova was pro cured from the Rotorua district and th council gratefully acknowledges the geneons treatment, both as to quantity aur’ price, received at the hands of the De pertinent, for Internal Affairs. Thrc hundred and twenty-five thousand brow’ fry were reared, and 145,000 rainbow The '.fry were . particularly strong am’ vigorous, .and have thriven where liberated. ■ The cost of trapping fish for onwas, less cost of material on hand. £BB Os 7d. DEER AND PHEASANTS.

For the second year no birds have been reared on the game farm. The question of the working of the farm urgently requires consideration by the incoming council. The deer herd is again in fine condition, hut stags are required Tho herd consists of 20 hinds, 3 stags, and 3 calves, while the calves for IPJt number 15. Five stags and two hindwere sent to the Rotorua district on nr count' of tho Tourist Department; one stag and two hinds to Taihape, two stags to Hlriakura, one stag to Walnui, ieavinj three calves at the park. . The attempts to rear pheasants on ,- Bunted scale have been futile. Thr curator at the Masterton hatchery los' all his birds, stock birds «s well, owin' to tho pointed attention of a weasel. The incoming council should considei the question of purchasing a large nniuber:of birds; or of engaging an expert and resuming "the systematic raising o‘" pheasants'at the game farm or in eom; other more suitable locality. If tho t< venue from game shooting is to be Increased, or even maintained, direct action is necessary. OPOSSUMS INCREASING. Opossums continue to increase in several parts of the society’s district, notablv at Paraparaumu, the Thraruas—Wainuiand in the north-western area. In order to keep these animals from becoming troublesome to. settlers on small properties the icouneil is trjing to procure from the Minister of Internal Affairs authority to open a season from June 2nd to July 31st 1919; the license fee to be «JJI; tho limit of skins per license to be 30; no permit to sell to be issued; no trapping to be carried on, ns the Animals’ Protection Act, as at present constituted, does not permit of any trapping. The animal must be shot in the head with a pea rifle, as is done in South Canterbury. This method leaves the skins uniiviured, and. is carried on in daylight. The council considers that the proposed license season will keep the animals from becoming a enable the'local eu-

■tioritv* to control the operations, and v ill li urinate the cruelty inseparable from the use of traps. It will also provide some revenue to the society, and will ensure the taking of the skins when in ail fur. No conference of delegates from affiliated societies has been held since Au ?ust Hth, 11)16, and even jf one had been held as fixed for November 13th, 1910, 'no satisfactory outcome was possible* is," states the report, “the session of Parliament was devoted solely to urgent natters, leaving no opportunity for tie amendment of the Animals Protection end isheries. Part 2, Acts. The bringing p to date of these two Acts is the t-.-m of the association, hut year after year i-.sses, and both tho date of the coming session of Parliament and the nature of ts scope are shrouded in the usual uncertainty." HEARTS’ THANKS TENDERED.

The council tenders the hearty thanks if its members to the Departments of Internal Affairs, Marine, and Tourist ei d Health, for many concessions and much courtesy; to the Railway Department for the free carriage of fish, deer, and birds; 'o the sub-committees for their co-opera-tion; to tho honorary rangers for continued and valuable services; and to the Curator at Masterton and rangers for untiring efforts on behalf of the society. The financial statement shows the receipts to be £1373 18s 9d and the payments J 81231 Is 9d. Deducting all liabilities, including depreciations, the accumulated funds of the society are 17s 6d, an increase of J3G3 Ms 3d.