SHOOTING SEASON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 117, 20 May 1933, Page 11

SHOOTING SEASON.

LIMITATION DISCUSSED.

acclimatisation society.

(By Telegrapi.—Own Correspondent.)

THAMES, this day. j The Auckland district council of the Acclimatisation Society met last evening in Thames. Mr. F. E. McKenzie presided. There was a large attendance of delegates of sub-branches. j Considerable discussion arose over a motion by A. E. Knowles that the • council consider a recommendation that the shooting season be from May 1 to July 31, the limit bag to be 20, and the maximum number of decoys 15. I Mr. Knowles said the Thames Society had to come to the conclusion that the present game season required revision 'and extension. I The chairman said the Matamata i Society was in favour of two months • and a limit bag of 15. Huntly recomi mended a season of not less than one I month or more than six weeks, and a limit of 25. Mr. A. Garrett and Dr. Liggins considered the bag should be limited rather than the season restricted. Mr J. Glessing, who has been shootin" since 1880, thought the season should be stabilised and not altered from year to year. Three months was not too long for an open season. Mr N". Z. J. Fitzgerald contended that troublue lay in the "oommercial" shooter, and a long season would play into his hands. On the chairman's suggestion the motion was altered to read "not less than two months." It was decided that in future rangers licenses would, not be issued for an unlimited period, and that all warrants would be recalled every five years. The Minister wrote that the opossum season would be open from June 16 to September 15. Following a Waihi proposal, supported by Thames, regarding outside breeding of pheasants, in which it was submitted that local breeders had reared better birds than those supplied by the parent society for liberation, the chairman explained that because of the breakdown in cliukhor the pheasants in stock had to be distributed over a wider area than was anticipated. The society considered it was better to buy from one reliable breeder than to buy all the birds offering. It would be necessary to purchase about 1000 birds next year if the present number issue of licenses was maintained. A request for more trout ova for the Kauaeranga Stream was referred to the fish committee, and it was also decided to ask the ranger to survey the stream with a view to ascertaining its food values