BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISn COMMISSION. 215 



make out, tliero are no less than twenty-one such societies in the colony. 

 All that a]ipears to be requisite for the establishment of a society is 

 that a copy of its rules, signed by the chairman and countersigned by 

 three members thereof, shaU be deposited in the office of the colonial 

 secretary. There is thus nothing to prevent atiy half-dozen persons 

 from forming themselves into an acclimatization society in any district 

 where no organization of that kind has already been constituted. It 

 has, therefore, been the practice, at the instance of any one of these so- 

 cieties, to make and gazette regulations under " the Salmon and Trout 

 act, 1867," for fishing in specified waters within the district in which 

 such society operates. These regulations prescribe a fee, usually £1, 

 for every fishing license. There is no specific authority in the act for 

 imposing the fee; this seems to have been done under the provisions in 

 the act quoted, which authorize the governor to make such regulations 

 for certain specified purposes as seem expedient, and also " as to any 

 other matter or thing which in any manner relates to the management 

 and protection of salmon or trout in this colony, or to the fishing for or 

 taking salmon or trout." In some districts considerable amounts must 

 be collected from the public for such licenses, and, as the license fees 

 are of the nature of a tax, I think it would be only reasonable in future 

 to require that the accounts of societies which receive these fees should 

 be published. I think it would also»be reasonable for the Government 

 in future to require any society which submits regulations for approval 

 and publication to furnish, along with such regulations, a copy of its 

 rules and a list of its members. 



Hatcheries. — I understand that seven fish hatcheries belonging to 

 acclimatization societies are now in existence, namely, one each at Auck- 

 land, Wairarapa, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Wallacetown (Inver- 

 cargill), and Queenstown, and one, belonging to a private individual, at 

 Opawa, near Christchurch. Now tliat communication between different 

 parts of the country has-been so greatly facilitated by the extension of 

 the railways, it is worthy of consideration whether better results with 

 less expenditure of money could not be obtained by having two well- 

 equipped establishments, one in North and one in Middle Island, whence 

 the young fry could be easily' distributed. 



In making the above remarks I have no desire whatever to detract 

 in tlie slightest degree from the credit that is due to many of the ac- 

 climatization societies, for undoubtedly they have rendered lasting and 

 most valuable service to the colony in introducing and stocking our 

 rivers with trout. This good work has been accomjilished by the zeal, 

 energy, and public spirit of the members of those societies, who have 

 not only contributed largely from their private purses, but have, year 

 after year, sedulously watched over the hatching of the ova, and after- 

 wards undertaken long aud toilsome journeys to distant lakes and rivers 

 to liberate the young fish. ]\[y object has been to exhibit the question 



