NATIVE GAME.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13707, 14 April 1910, Page 8

NATIVE GAME.

CLOSE SEASON ADVOCATED

J A special meeting of the Council of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society was held last night to consider the question of re-opening the native gnrne season ihis year. Dr B. M. Moorhouse presided, and there .was a good attendance of members present. The Chairman said that several petitions and counter-petitions had been rereived bearing on the su&ject. and several deputations would wait on the Council that night. The Secretary said that it was proposed to declare an open season for black swans and grey duck from May 14th to June 14th. Two deputations, one from the Christchurch Rod and Gun Club and the other from the Spreydon Gun Club, waited on the Council, urging that a close season should be observed this year. Mr Evans (Spreydon Gun Club) presented a petition against the proposed open season in May and June, in which reasons were given why the present . season should bo observed as a close one. Mr Evans said that no satisfactory reason had been adduced why the season should be opened this year. There was a j,reat scarcity of ducks on Lake Ellesmon*, and good bags had not been obtained for ten or twelve .\cars past. It had been said that tho ducks were destroying the grain in tho surrounding district, but the settlers were in the habii of scattering wheat to attract the birds to their places, s<l that they could be shot there. Mr Thomas urged that tho cylinder system .should be done away* with, feomfc two years ago one man in a cylinder had nhot s"jo ducks. At the present time ducks were not anything like as plentiful at the lake as they had been. Another incnber of the deputation also referred to the scarcity of ducks, at the lake at the present time. Mr G. F. Whiteside (Rod and Gun Club) said the petitions in favour of tho open season did not bear the names of the true sportsmen in the Ellesmere district. It a close season were observed in South Canterbury and an open one in North Canterbury, the result would be to drive the ducks away from Lake Ellesmere southward. The cylinder system of shooting would have to be abolished if the ducks were to continue to exist on Lake Ellesmere The lake was low this season, and that would enable more people to shoot tho ducks from the public approaches, for when the lake was high the water flooded private property, and the shooting rights were let by tho owners, the ordinary sportsman being unable tr, get to the lake. After the deputation had withdrawn, Mr E. F. Stead proposed a motion that the Council should withdraw its application' to the Government for an open season this year. Mr Stead said the Government had decreed there should be a. close season every third year, and unless that was carried out tho game would become extinct. The motion was seconded by Mr Shand. Mr G. B. Ritchie, who opposed tho motion, said that no reason had been adduced why the Council should alter its previous decision. Hte had been >.s----sured by sportsmen that ducks -were most plentiful at tho lake, and there was no reason why the open season ehould not be allowed. No protest had been received until the Society had approached the Government on tho matter, although most sportsmen knew that petitions in favour of an open season were in circulation, and that i recommendation was to be mad© to tho Government. The Chairman said that when the first decision was arrived at it vas thought an open season was generally > desired by sportsmen. Since then it -had been found that many were opposed to it. .Wlien the original petitions were being circulated it was generally supposed by those who favoured the close season that the- Government -would ■ never consent to the opan season proposal, and consequently th«y took no active steps to oppose tin petitions. After further discussidn a vote was taken, anrl tho motion was carried by XI votes to. 4.