ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 154, 14 August 1886, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A meeting of the 'Committee of the Geraldine County Acclimatisation Society was held last evening, at. which Mesera Gray (Chairman), Findlay, Twomey, Hargreaves, Nicholas, Aspinall, and Dr Hayes were present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Aspinall, the Secretary, read letters received by him with reference to the 6000 salmou ova which came in the lonic, and for the hatching of which he arranged with the Christchurch Acclimatisation Society. He believed, however, these • were swept away by the flood. ‘ Mr Nicholas said that he had read in the papers that these fish were barely disturbed, »n i that they sustained very little injury. It was decided that’the Secretary write to,Mr Farr, and ascertain h,ow they were getting on. The Secretary stated that gome negotiations had been entered into with regard to the purchase of 1500 brook 'rout from the Christchurch Society. They offered to sell them at £1 per 100. . • Dr Hayes moved “That £lO be offered for 1500 brook trout; 500 of them to be old trout.” ■ Mr Findlay seconded the);motion, and it was carried unanimously. A discussion arose as to where they ought to be put in the event of lire Society getting them, and on the motion of Mr Hargreaves, seconded by Dr Hayes, it was resolved to liberate them in the Temuka river at the Oxford bridge, Tho Secretary brought forward the question of fishing in the Milford lagoon. Mr Twomey urged that it would be a hardship on persons who made a living by fishing in the lagoon to prevent them doing sc, but it was pointed out that salmon going out to sea and coming back would be liable to be caught in any nets set in the lagoon, and that it would thus be impossible to acclimatise salmon. It was also stated that previous to netting being carried on, the river, all the way up, "as full of flounders and other fish, but that none could be seen in it now. To prevent netting would increase the supply of flounders, which could be speared, te* cause now tho spawn, was disturbed by netting, and, thus their; increase prevented. Besides, men from all parts of the country came to the lagoon and took fish away with them, and it would be impossible to prevent poaching while the lagoon was left open to netting. After the matter had been fully argued it was decided to request the Governor to ' exercise the power vested in him to prevent the use of nets in all waters, in the district, that is, from the north bank of tho Rangitata to the *outh bank of tha Opihi. A fisherman who has recently come to live in Temuka waited on the Society and asked for leave to net for flounders and herrings in the lagoon. He did pot wish to catch trout, he would sot set.? any net, all he wished to do was to put in the nek and haul it out again immediately. It was pointed out to him that if he got 1 permission every one who desired it would have to get it also, and that all would not do like him. He was informed of tha decision the Society had arrived at. and he retired. The question of selling trout was next discussed. Mr Aspinall pointed out. that Lake Wakatipu trout were allowed to be sold, and that many trout, from this district were sent to Christchurch and Dunedin »nd sold there as Lake vVakatipu trout. It was as well to allow them to be sold, and he would move—“That 1 trout be al* lowed to be .gold during the Coming season.” ! Dr Hayes seconded the motion. Messrs Find’ay', Hargreaves, and .Nicholas spoke against the motion, at it would lead to poaching, and on it being put it waa lost,

It was decided tlon tie pi'«S"n he opened on the let of Ocfbber ; no reslrictiOD to be made as to the hours of fishing. This conclusion was arrived at mi ill Nicholas representing that to allow all Dight fishing would prevent poachiim. Mr Twpmey moved, and Dr Hayes seconded —“ That after the Ist oi Jan., 1887, licenses may be issued at half ! price for the remainder of the season.” The motion was lost by the vote of the ; Chairman, and it was decided to make the licenses £1 as heretofore. After seine further discussion it wag .resolved to offer-threepence per head for hawks, and sixpence per head for shags, u they were destroying ducks and othei kinds of game. The meeting then terminated with ihe usual compliment to the Chairman.