FISH AND GAME

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1940, Page 10

FISH AND GAME

ACCLIMATISATION WORK The annual meeting of the Inglewood branch of the Taranaki Acclimatisation Society was held on Thursday night, when Mr. E. Maetzig presided over an attendance of more than 50 license holders. The president wclcomed Mr. W. H. Moyes, New Plymouth, president of the Taranaki rouncil, and other New Plymouth members. In presenting the annual report of the society's activities, Mr. Maetzig thanked members for the general support given the committee, as the enthusiasm shown in the work done had reflected in the solid increase in the number of license holders. A record number of 115 licenses, of a total value of £105 5s. had been sold. The main work was again the liberation of fisli. At the last annual meeting Inglewood was allotted one-third of the brown trout fry, two-thirds of the fingerlings. and of the rainbows 20 per cent. were allotted to the Maketawa River, 40 per cent. to the Waiwakaiho, 10 per cent. to the Oakura and 30 per cent. to the Stony River. The liberation had taken them further afield than anticipated, as they had assisted New Plymouth in taking 13,200 fingerlings to the Waiwakaiho at Egmont Village, and 6000 to the Mangorei on March 16 and a further 7600 to Burgess Park on April 2. The total liberations, including the figures mentioned, were 33,000 brown fry, 22,750 brown fingerlings and 66,700 rainbows. In thanking all those who had assisted ln the work, the president made special reference to the untiring efforts of the secretary, Mr. A. N. Franklyn, and Mr. P. Vickers. The total cost of liberation at ls 3d per mile amounted to £11 3s, while the contributions were £15 6s. It was very gratifying to report that almost all license holders had contributed towards the expenses. Special mention was made of a number of boys and youths who had made contributions. Coinpetition Winncrs. The competitions held during the year were won by Mr. F. Vickers (senior class) with a rainbow trout of 51b. 6oz., and Mr. Leslie Drake (junior class) with a brown trout of 31b. 5oz., while Mr. Noel Reesby caught a fish of the sama weight., From reports being received, he continued, fish were plentiful in all the local streams, and the natural increase should be exceptionally good this year, on account of the absence of severe floods during and after the spawning season. It was also gratifying to know that there appeared to be considerably less poaching than ln the past, due, he thought, to the increase of license holders among the farming community, who were keeping a watchful eye and ear on their particular streams. At the hatchery at Durham Road there I were at present half a million fry, 200,000 each for the Hawera and Taranaki Societies, and 100,000 rainbow for Taranaki. They were a fine even lot of fish, he said, and would oe put into the outside ponds within a week or two. Last year's total of eyed ova received at the hatchery was 608,000, 1 and of these 307,000 were liberated as fry, and 212,600 as fingerlings, which meant that 70 to 76 per cent. was reared from eye-ova to the fingerling stage, this result ranking among the best efforts and entirely due to the untiring energy of the curator, Mr. Miller. During the year a party of shooting men went to the Upper Mangorei to destroy a shaggery. Unfortunately the trip was made a little too late and only a small number of shags were destroyed. The place, however, would be agair. Visited during November, when better results were expected. Mr. Moyes congratulated the Inglewood society on their efforts during the past season, particularly with the liberation of fish, and said that without Inglewood he did not know what the council would i do. Rearing of Plieasants. Referring to the rearing of pheasants, Mr. Moyes statcd that this year the council was, to tide over the lean times, asking one or two farmers in each district to breed birds. Although the first efforts had not been good, mainly on aceount of facilities, the council had decided this year to supply as well as the eggs, suitable coops and yards. Mr. H. Julian reported on the birds liberated in the Inglewood district last year, and of the quality of chicks reared from eggs hatched in the incubators of Mr. Ludeman. It was decided that a recommendation be forwarded to the New Plymouth Council that the takeable size of brown trout be. increased to 13 inches. Towards the cost of liberation during the coming season, it was resolved that all license holders contribute the sum of 5s. It was decided that a complimentary license be issued to fishermen going into camp on October 2. The election of officers resulted: — President, Mr. E. Maetzig; secretary, Mr. A. N. Franklyn; committee, Messrs. F. Vickers, A. H. Reesby, W. Wilson, F. Paul, H. „ Julian ; member of Taranaki Council, Mr. A. H. Reesby. At the conclusion of the meeting an interesting and instructive address was given by Mr. Moyes on the pollution of water, dealing mainly with the effect of pollution in the rearing of trout at hatcheries. In New Zealand, he said, research work was being carried out by Massey College, which in the near future would be forwarding a report, while in England £10,000 had been voted towards research work there. Many dairy factories in Taranaki had co-operated by putting in screens and with the further co-operation of farmers near hatcheries in diverting refuse from cowsheds and pig-sties situated on the banks of rivers much more would then have been done to control pollution. To illustrate the pollution of rivers, the speaker displayed two filter trays from the Durham Road hatchery, which afforded members the opportunity of seeing the amazing amount of refuse collected during a very short period.