TARANAKI ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 124, 16 May 1908, Page 6

TARANAKI ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

There was a small attendance at the thirty-iifth annual meeting of llie Taranuki Acclimatisation Society in the Town Hail last night. Air. W. Jj. Newman presided.

ANMAL REPORT. The annual report of tlie Council congratulated the Society upon the improved iiuunt:os. Jievenue for the year was X\2-i 2 (i lid, and this, added to the balance carried forward from last year, gave yi.,2 n,i. ji u . expenditure was 1H.3 .5s (id, leading a sum of 4.07 7s h»d to commence the y ,. iir OJig to pisciculture, the season just cloheu had not been Jro( . jrum drawbacks. At the commencement of the rear the I .weather was cold, with hcuvv rain, and strong gales, and the rivers were in high hood. Then the long dry spell set in; and the waters were so low ihal little fishing could be done. Si ill, smiling wat> becoming more popular, in glanced by the increase of licence fee* from £34 l os to C(i(> n a (id hi the year. By Ihe aid of .Messrs. Whittleand Birch the liberation ol llsh was completed in duly, some yearling trout being placed in the Waiaua river,

and others in the Waiw akailio and tin; Kaiauai. Two thousand yearling trout were obtained from liavvura, and liberated by the same gentlemen in the Waiwakaiho. In relerence to game, the report recorded an improvement in tlie numbers if pheasants and ducks. \n the vicinity of New Plymouth birds were more numerous than for years past. .More active measures were being taken to prevent poaching. Opossums were

increasing in the districts where they were liberated, numbers having been ! seen in the open and in some cases close to settlers' house*. The thanks of thu Society were due to the farmers who had assisted tlie Society not only in preserving the game birds which had helped so much in checking the caterpillar pest- but also in assisting the rangers to stop poaching. "In conclusion, we would point out to all shootisU that the taking out of a license, does not carry with it the right to shoot Over people's property without iirnt getting permission to do so, and would remind them that what is worth having id worth asking for." In moving the adoption of the report the president sain that the good financial position was due in a large measure to the fact that ihe secretary bad for the past two years given his services gratuitously, lie recommended the putchase of as much trout fry as could be accommodated in the Society's ponds. .Mr. J. 15. AVilson (seconded the adoption.

Mr. E. Whittle referred to the recent prosecutions of persons lishing at the mouth of the Waiwakaiho. He did nol think tho Society'*; ranger had acted ipiit.e fairly, for warning might rvadily have been given. The Society depended a good deal upon the farmer* to protect game, and these farmer* again depended upon nol ting at the river mouths for their fish supply, but without, any intention of taking inmt. lie did not like these men being classed as poachers, and he would like lo see the Waiwakaiho exempted, for very few if any trout could he netted.

Mr. Birch said that unlicensed persons were lishing with a rod at the mouth of the Waiwakailm. Mr. J. E. Wilson said it was a matter of common knowledge, that trout were caught there in nets, and that the trout could be obtained from those people. The secretary siat.nl that sea-run trout, had been cau.jht by anglers iu Hie Waiwakaiho. .Loch Levin trout had been liberated iu the Waitara river only, and some had been caught in the Waiwakaiho. thus instancing the necessity for this protective regulation. AH-. Whittle that he would like file activities of the ranger devoted to catching poachers in the country districts, where rivers, once full of tish. had been robbed by poachers who used acetylene lumps and so on. The secretary pointed out that the Mokau and Waitara river mouths were exempt from the regulation. The report wa« adopted. Mr. XV. J/. Newman declined nomination as president, and Mr. .1. E. Wilson was elected. .Mr. McAUuin desired to resign the secretaryship, but consented to stand again, was elected, and voted a bonus of lo The following cmniiiUee was elected: Messrs. E. AVhittle, Kwnnetl, XV, Birch, AViggs, .1. Cibson. juu.. and W. L. Newman. 'I he meeting discussed the question o! sending a remit to the conference wiili a view of regulating the number of birdpj to be killed. \w the nmr-e of the discussion a member r-marked that game was bound to deere-c, and iu the near future (he Society would have to look to the town and il ' iishing licenses for revenue. He it would be excellent business )u heavily slock the Waiwa- , k'aiho, Oakura, and Tim-am j streams.

The secretary is to procure supplies of yearling trout. Mr. Whittle suggested advertising a list of shooting licenses.