The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 1913. ACCLIMATISATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 92, 22 August 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 1913. ACCLIMATISATION.

it is now sonic twenty years since a lew enthusiastic settlers in Stratford resolved on the formation of an Acclimatisation Society, and with much earnestness of purpose a small beginning was made. From its inception the Society has always done its best to foster sport for rod and gun, and wheii it is remembered what difficulties have been faced and overcome, it must bo admitted that much good work has been carried out. From the beginning a restricted income luus imposed its limitations on the work accomplished, for the whole of the Society’s revenue is derived from the fees collected for shooting and fishing licenses, supplemented by the ; too rare voluntary contribution. But much valuable work has been ungrudgingly done by members themselves, and to them great honoilr is .due. Annually for some yearn past, considerable purchases of pheasants have been made with the idea of in-, treducing new blood, and in this con-' 'icction .Mr A. A , Budge is rendering the Society valuable service in caring, lor the young birds each year as they arrive • until they are liberated in suitable parts of the district. The location of Air 1 judge’s pheasantry is jan idea) one for the proper care of the [birds while in captivity. The present [President of the Society, Air W. i’, i ■Kirkwood, during the four or five 1 jyoars bo has held continuous office, (has devoted much time to the Sojciety’is affairs and has especially in-j teres ted himself in the sport loved j I by old Izaak Walton. Many experi-1 [mends have been made in the direction j of stocking the district’s streams, j ami fry and ova from various parts' of Xew Zealand have been purchased in large quantities and liberated with . more or less success over a very wide

Area. This year the Society lias made its biggest single purchase of ova —- ( mo hundred thousand—from the lain- ( mis llakataramea hatcheries, which ] gain their supplies Irmn the sea-run ,> irout of the Waitaki river. Anglers j will be'interested to learn that this i is jn<st double the quantity purchased in any past year. Another point worth noting is that in the present < season only brown trout are being handled, past experience having proved that the rainbow variety, for some reason or other, has not given the ■results hoped and expected. The ova arrived in good condition and is doing splendidly at the Society’s hatcheries on Mrs Jones’ property at Hunt Road. They are in the care of a most enthusiastic young curator —Miss Alma Jones, who appears to have inherited a’love of pisciculture from her late father who, as most of our readers will remember, was, most devoted to the science of trout' hatching and rearing. The Stratford ponds are admirably situated, amidst, very pleasant surroundings, and visitors are always welcome to view thei fish, on making their desire knownj to Mrs Jones. The Curator, Miss; Jones (who by-the-way is only sixteen j years of ago) has everything at the tiny hatching-house in fine order, andi no mere male could pay more attention to her young charges than she does. The stocking of our streams with good fish, anil the acclimatisation of game in the district, is a really important national work ,and we could j wish that the general public would; show more interest in it. The Society is willing, and even anxious, to do big things, hut, as we have above stated, the handicap of want of funds keeps it in check. There are very! many residents and settlers who could I do at least something to assist. One of the simplest and easiest of these is to apply for membership and give the benefit of any experience they may possess to the councils of the Society. Of course the straight-out voluntary contribution will he heartily welcomed. Possibly some of our readers on seeing these references may feel impelled to help in the directions indicated. If so the Society will he glad to hear from them.