ACCLIMATISATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 14, 17 September 1913, Page 5

ACCLIMATISATION.

THE INCOMING SEASON.

PROTECTION OF OPOSSUMS,

The secretary of the Acclimatisation Society has received a notification from the Department of Internal Affairs to the effect that opossums are to be absolutely protected in certain districts of. the Dominion. A recent controversy in New Zealand has disclosed the fact that opossums are harmless to the farmer and also that if sufficient protection can be given until a large increase is assured a substantial revenue is derivable from the sale of opossum skins. This protection is the outcome of a discussion held at the meeting of delegates from Acclimatisation Societies, which conference Mr W. P. Kirkwood attended on behalf of Stratford. This conference of delegates met the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Bell, and urged the protection of opossums in farming districts and an open season in fruit districts.

The Victorian Government is strictly enforcing the law against killing the little animals during the close season in that state. At Korongoale (Victoria) Police Court recently, Walter Beggs was Charged with killing 100 opossums and 60 opossums during the close season. The Bench inflicted a fine of £3 with £25 damages, the value of the native game destroyed, with £G 5s lid costs/ in default 6 weeks’ imprisonment on the first charge, and a fine of £2 with £ls added, the value of the game destroyed, in defaulet four weeks imprisonment on the second charge. Trout and Pheasants.—The local Society lias nearly finished liberating its annual batch of pheasants, about 20 brace having been liberated up to date. The birds have been liberated in splendid condition and should provide good sport for nexte season. The Society has secured 110,000 brown trout ova, which are now hatched and are doing well at the hatcheries.. They will 1)0 liberated later on. The prospects for the coming season, which commences• on October Ist, are good. The policy of the Society in restocking the streams is having good results, and there is no doubt that in the very near future Stratford streams will be second to none from the fisherman’s point of view. We wish fishermen a successful season.