ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 37, 14 February 1939, Page 10

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

VAIMARINO COUNCIL MEETSThe usual monthly meeting of the council of the Waimarino Acclimatisation Society was held at the society’s rooms on Friday evening. Mr. T. Shout presided anti the following were also in attendance: Messrs. W. P. Mead, J. Bergman. T. Ranginui, J. M. Heise and the secretary Mr. A. C. Henderson. Mr. R. O. Gross. C.M.G., of Auckland, wrote to the society complaining that in his opinion the streams in the district were disappointing. He made particular reference to the Mangawhero and stated that he believed that no stocking had taken place for some years. This was to be regretted, stated Mr. Gross, for although rainbow may not be suitable for the water as it is now, brown trout still would give good sport and even though admittedly inferior as a sporting fish to rainbow—the brown trout was better than no fish at all. Mr. Gross concluded by stating that he could not have wished for better fishing than was to be had some 10 or 12 years ago. The secretary (Mr. Henderson) informed the society that he had forwarded a reply to the complaint. In this he stated, inter alia, that the local society had considered that the Mangawhero was iiecoming overstocked with brown trout. In his opinion the visitor had been fishing in the vicinity of Ohakune in the upper Mangawhero. where the fishing had not been good for some years. Below the junction with the Taonui stream, however, there was no dearth of fish. The upper reaches, however, appeared to be in disfavour and last year practically the whole run went up the Taonui. As to sporting qualities. Mr. Henderson stated that he considered the brown trout were more sporting than the rainbow, as. being more wary, it consequently required more skill to take them. So plentiful were the brown trout that on the advice of the chief expert of the Fresh Water Fish Research section of the Marine Department the Waimarino Society had agreed that the Auckland and Wellington Acclimatisation Societies should have ail the ova that they could got from the Mangawhero just for the trouble of trapping and shopping the fish. The secretary’s reply was endorsed by the council. Members reported that they had observed an abundance of fish in the Mangawhero in the vicinity of the Ohakune Borough Boundary and from ■there down there was any quantity of fish. The secretary reported that to date the total issue of licences was as follow’s:—Men 152, ladies 6, boys 91,1 visitors 3. The Federation of North Island and West Coast Acclimatisation Societies advised that all the societies comprising the federation had agreed to recommend a game licence fee of 30s. Accounts amounting to £8 19s 9d were passed for payment.