ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 256, 4 October 1928, Page 4

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

PUTARURU BRANCH. Joint Meeting. The Trolling Question. A general meeting of members of the Putaruru branch of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society was held in the Oddfellows Hall on Friday, Mr. F. C. Flyger presiding. There was a very good attendance of members, including six members of the Matamata branch. Rangers. Temporary rangers were appointed as follows: Pokaiwhenua, Messrs. Proctor and Neames; Waipa, Mr. W. G. Barnett; Waihou, Messrs. S. C. Snell and J. Gawith; Upper Pokaiwhenua, Mr. T. F. Snell. Thanks. On the motion of Messrs. Flyger and Barnett, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr. S. C. Snell for his valuable work in stocking streams, and in providing food supplies. Deputation.

Mr. Flyger reported on the visit of the local deputation to Auckland, and on the motion of Messrs. Barnett and Proctor a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the three members concerned. Trolling at Arapuni. A long discussion ensued on the regulation banning trolling at Lake Arapuni, during which Mr. W. G. Barnett, who has lived and fished in the district for 30 years, gave a very interesting lecturette on the subject.

Mr. Barnett stated that he was strongly opposed to the action of the parent body in banning trolling on the lake. He had only heard of about two fish being caught by use of the fly either on the lake or in the river before the lake was formed. It was practically an impossibility to succeed with the fly, as the water was so deep, and the fish were ground feeders. From the revenue point of view the prohibition of trolling would do the society a great deal of harm, as a vast number of people, particularly ladies, who would go to the lake for week-ends, would not now come, and therefore would not take out licenses. In his opinion this loss of revenue would amount to about £IOO. From what he had heard it appeared as if the Auckland Society was not certain as to the quantity of fish in the lake, and therefore took steps in the direction of protecting them. His thirty years’ experience convinced him that the river and lake were both teeming with fish, and unless the society was careful they would be faced with similar trouble to that at times experienced in Lake Rotorua through an insufficiency of fcod causing slabs. The numbers of fish had increased greatly since the formation of the lake, mainly because the fish had come down stream to what was a better feeding ground through the waters providing a temporary increase in food in covering greater areas of land. This condition would not remain long as when the vegetation rotted there would not be the same home or shelter for that food on which the fish lived. It was his considered opinion that if the Auckland Society decided to enforce the regulation they would never be able to clean out the lake sufficiently to get decent fish. Mr. Livingstone (Matamata) stated that previously he had supported the Auckland Society, but having heard Mr. Barnett’s views he was convinced a mistake had been made. Quite a different complexion had been put on the question, and he had no hesitation in taking Mr. Barnett’s word. He would endeavour to arrange for an early meeting at Matamata to put the Putaruru views before their members, and he hoped that in future both branches would work together in the closest co-op-eration.

Mr. Proctor (secretary) stated that no advice had been received from Auckland as to the regulation in regard to trolling, and that the Putaruru branch had never been consulted in the matter. Another Deputation. On the motion of Messrs. T. F. and S. C. Snell, it was decided that Mata- | mata co-operate with Futaruru on | October 11, in an endeavour to obtain by attendance at the Auckland meet- * ing a repeal of the regulation prohibiting trolling, or, alternatively, an amendment that trolling from a rowboat be allowed. A Local Councillor. On the suggestion of Mr. Livingstone, it was decided to approach Mr. W. G. Barnett with a view to him standing for election on the Auckland council as representative of local branches. Close Co-operation. The Matamata delegation express- i (Continued in Next Column)

ed thanks for the invitation to attend the meeting, and it was unanimously decided to arrange for closer co-op-cration between the two branches in future, with, if possible, a joint meeting every three months. Deer Stalking. On the motion of Messrs. S. C. Snell and Proctor, it was decided to support the endeavours of the Matamata branch to obtain an open season for deer in the local district from March 15 to the end of May.