ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 15 May 1925, Page 10

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

ANNUAL REPORT. Tho following is the report to be presenuxi to toe annual mooting or tno Cioutn Uani/oruury .Acclimatisation ooc.ety: — , _ . , lino nnancial position of the society has noon noil maintained, altimugn tno Uouncii lias uunng tne year a conaiacra.olo amount of nionoy on acclimatisation work, 'ino income from lisinng licenses snows little - variation excepting in respect of boys’ licenses, ami it is to be regretted that tnese show a considerable decrease. • The income shows an. increase of £2 Ids 8d over last year's ligures, tho principal items being: Fishing licenses £584, camo licenses £lO3, reserves £44 is, deer and opossum £49 15s 9d, other sources £2B 9s sd. Tho expenditure shows an increase of £2O lUs 6d, tho main items being: Ranging and hatching £3OO 8s 7d, administration £lB2 18s, shags’ heads £42 11s 6d. reserves £9 9s lUd, depreciation and repairs £lO3 5s 4d, other expenses £L7 19s Bd. Allowance has been made for payments outstanding at tho date of balance and the resultant improvement in position of £149 19s 3d in the year’s working will bo regarded as satisfactory. Strpping operations were again con ducted in the Temuka river, and no difficulty was experienced in securing the necessary number of eggs to fill tho hatching boxes in the stream on tho Society’s property at Temuka. 200,000 brown trout fry were hatched, the liberation being as under: —Little River 25,000, Pareora (upper gorge) 25 000, Te Ngawai 50,000, Kakahu (top. waters) 10,000, Opuha Gorge 150,000, Opihi (Burke’s Pass) 30,000, Opihi (Pleasant Point) 10,000. The attempt to obtain brown trout ova from Lake Alexandria was again unsuccessful, but on 19th July some fine-conditioned rainbow trout in Scott s Creek wore trapped and stripped. Of tho eggs obtained 20,000 were set in the shingle above the'groin and 30,000 transported to Temuka, hatched in the boxes in the creek, and tho fry were liberated in Lake Hartley (20,000) and Lake Tui (10,000). , . A , The total fry hatched and liberated since the inception of this scheme is 300,000 brown trout and 60,000 rainbow trout. The Waimate Society assisted financially in the restocking of tho Pareora by donating £5 towards the expenses. On 13th December last 4000 natural hatched rainbow fry were netted in Scott’s Creek and packed over to Lake Stony, this being the last of the Mackenzie lakes worth stocking. There are now five small lakes within half an hour’s walk of Lake _Alcxandrina well stocked with rainbow trout, thereby adding many miles of fine fishing water available for anglers who care to visit the Mackenzio Country. The Council desires to express its gratitude to Mr George Murray for tho loan of pack mules to make this work possible, and for the many kindnesses extended from time to time to assist • the cause of acclimatisation. . • A close watch has been kept on tho rivers and large numbers of fish removed from drying pools in the Hae Hao, To Moana, and Opihi, 250 of these being placed in the Fairlie dam. Whilst this work was in progress the ranger caught eight young qujnnat salmon, seven to eight inches in length in the Opihi, this proving that quinnat had spawned in the upper reaches of this river.

The fishing in the various streams showed a decided improvement after Christmas, the Opihi in particular yielding some very fine fly-fishing, and those anglers who prefer the larger fish, have been delighted with the sport. The other rivers have all given equally good sport, and much satisfaction in tho all-round improvement in the fishing has been expressed. The scientific investigation of the habits of the brown trout ds still being carried out, over 80 fish being tagged during tho course of the stripping operations last season. Anglers can render great service to the Society by forwarding to the secretary the following particulars of any tagged fjsh which may be caught:—(l) Number of tag; (2) weight and length of fish; and (3) the date, and where caught. Tho run of salmoh in the Rangitata has been much better than in th'o previous season, but unfortunately the river was dirty and unfishable for quite a month, and most of the early running fish went up in the flood waters. Good fishing was experienced about 20th March although tho fish caught were smaller than last year, mostly ranging from 71b to 161 b, and some as small as l|lb were taken on spoon bait. Tho Albury fallow deer herd still provides good sport, and licenses for the forthcoming season are obtainable. A successful open season for opossums was experienced last year. Several licenses were issued and the total revenue received was £47 17s 9d.

Th game shooting season opened for the months of . May, June, and July, during which grey duck, black teal, spoonbill, Mallard and black swans were permitted to be shot under the license! Good sport was obtained, quite a number of licenses being taken out. A similar season has been granted this year, with the addition of the right fo take paradise duck in the Mackenzie Country during the first seven days of the season, the bag being limited to six birds ner gun per day.

The policy of encouraging the destruction of black shags is being continued, the price paid being now 2s per head. During the year 35 California quail were procured and liberated in the bush at the head of the Orari river. Orders for considerably more than this number -were given, but these were all that were obtainable. The thanks of the Poeietv are duo to Mr Leonard Tripp (Wellington) for defraying the cost of securing these birds. An attemnt was made last spring to introduce pheasants bv purchasing a number of eggs from the North Island and giving them to various sportsmen interested to hatch under hens. Owing to adverse weather conditions, the experiment. was attended with little success, very few chicks being batched. An attempt is now being made to Fccuro some parent birds, and several farmers have offered donations towards defraying the cost, and have agreed to take the birds and look after them. Bitterns arc again reported to be increasing in this district, and sportsmen are asked to note that bitterns are absolutely protected.

Since the last annual meeting the Council secured, through the courtesy of 'lie Temuka Domain Board, the leases of a very extensive natural pond in iho Teniuka Domain at a peppercorn rental, for the purpose of creating a breeding ground for ducks and other game. This has been securely fenced, and will prove a great asset to the Society as well as a haven of rest for native game. The ranger secured six black swans and four paradise ducks from the Mackenzie Country, and those have formed the nucleus of a stock in this sanctuary. The Temuka Borough Council and the Teniuka Domain Board each subscribed £ls towards the cost of the necessary improvements. GENERAL. The following donations of game have been made during the year:—Wellington Zoological Gardens, 3 pairs of paradise ducks, Bramwel! Booth Boys’ Home (Temuka), 1 pair of black swans. During the year the mouth of the Opilii river has given verv little trouble and no expenditure in opening has been necessary. It is gratifying to note that poaching continues to decrease, due in no 6mall measure to the increasing vigilance of the ranger, assisted by the honorary rangers and license holders. An increased number of entrants was again received for Rayne essay, and the interest displayed by the younger generation is most commendable. Mr W D. Campbell. M.A., who acted ns judge, reported that he had some difficulty in making his awards. The prize winners on this occasion were:—Senior, Theo Williams. Geraldine; junior, Frank Askin. Geraldine.

It is with deep regret that the Council lmve to report that during the vear the Societv lost, throurdi the death of Mr J. S. Rutherford, one of its most ardent and valued supporters. Mr Rutherford was chairman of the Socictv for many ye-Is, and the good work that he performed in the cans© of acclimatisation in South Canterbury Will long live to perpetuate his memory.

Pin-ing the vear Mr E Hardeastle found it. necessary retire, and was appointed a supernumerary member of the Omii-eil. The vacancy thus created Tens filled by the onnointment of Mr ,T. McDonald. Th° following members: of Urn Council will vet’re bv rotation: — Tim»rii and J.«vois County,' Messrs T,, R. Machnv, F. CT. Mav. and C. S. V-'iin": Templ-a and f}or'' I <t : n« Co”-’tv. Mosers ,T. McDonald °ud W. E. Bovs: M acl-op^; A r l nunt T ’, ivfoscvs tiy Adams and E. Mr L. Rtorev wip "Iso retire bv reason of hie remov'd' from fpo Te-ouka and r< ""ald’nc district, wliich he represented.