TARANAKI ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8141, 25 June 1906, Page 2

TARANAKI ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Diorc was a meagre attendance on Saturday at tlio annual meeting of the Taranaki Acclimatisation Socioty. 'Mr W. L. Nowman (President) was in the chair.

The Secretary, Mr D. McAllum, read the annual report as follows : FINANCE. Tke revenue for the year was £99 10s 6d, which, addod to last year's balance, gives a total of £129 Cs 7d. The expenditure has been £lO3 10s sd, loaviug a balance of £25 10s 2d to oarry forward to the new year. PIBCICI'IiTPBB.

The secretary oontinuod the liberating of the young trout left in the ponds at the end of March of last year, placing them in the Oakura (6 places), Te Henui (2 places), Man?oroi (2 places), Waiongona (8 places) and Waiwakailio rivers. A trip was made to Opunako, when some 350 yearling fish were successfully liberated in several places in the Waiaua river, not one being lost on the journey. The time occupied in liberating the 20,000 ttsh, was from February until November. The smallest Ash liberated were about three inches, and the largest fourteen inches long. The mortality was four hsh caused by the excessive heat. When the last few Dsh were placed in the rivers, the ponds were thoroughly cleaned out and made ready for another lot of young rainbow fry, which had been ordered from the Hawera Society, and these fish, some 10,000, will shortly bo placed in the rivers. If the Society wishes, satisfactory arrangements can be made with the Hawera .Society for the upkeep of its fish hatchery by guaranteeing to pay a stated yearly donation, and receive in return young fish fry equal in'value to the donation.

The fishing season has been fairly successful, and it is noticeable that a greater number of brown trout have been taken in tho higher reaches of the Waiwakaiha than in formor years, and it is probable this is the result of placing tho fish ladder at the Waterworks dam. There is no doubt good fishing in Taranaki will.nevor be obtained unless the Society receives help from landowners and anglers to put down the incessant poaching which goes on in all our rivers. The Secretary finds it very disheartening after all the care bestowed upon the young Ash to get them to the rivers without loss and in good order, to find unprincipled persons taking thorn out [ with pitch-forks, etc.

GAME, The pheasants which were received last year, and left in tho Secretary's care, were liberated at the ond oi August iu good order and condition, but it is only a question of time when these splendid game birds will become extinct. Californian, quail are plentiful all over the district, and afford fair sport..

The report of the Opunake subcommittee condemned tho excessive poaching, especially in the Bahotu district, spearing, dynamiting and shooting being rampant there. Maoris offended by setting nets across the mouths of the streams. The fishing in that part of the district was, in consequence, unattractive. The fish liberated last August were doing well The committee recommended that the' Society send a supply of fish to bu distributed according to the wishes of the committee j annual re-stocking of tho rivers there ; the appointment of a new ranger j and the cessation of the practice of issuing boy's licenses.

Officers were elected for the ensuing yoar: President, Mr W. L. Newman; secretary and treasurer, Mr D. McAllum; council, Messrs J. Paul, W, Bewley, J. E. Wilson, G. Manncring, and J. A. Fleming.

Votes of thanks to tho retiring officers were passed, and the mooting adjourned