WAPITI & MOOSE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17103, 26 March 1921, Page 10

WAPITI & MOOSE.

NEW HERDS DISCOVERED. TRIP TO WEST COAST FIORDS. A few days ago it was reported that Wapiti and Moose deer, which were liberated some years ago in the West Coast Fiords, "had been discovered to have thrived there, and to have in* creased very materially in numbers. The discovery was made by Mr F. Moorhouse, Conservator of Fish and Game (Rotorua), who was sent by the Government, at the request of the Southland Acclimatisation Society, to make investigations. Mr Moorhouse's report has been made available to the Press by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. Downie Stewart). During the rear 1901, Mr Moorhouse states, "VNf apiti, or Elk (three males aud seven females) were purchased by the Government, aud liberated in the same year at the head of George Sound, jf'rora time to time various visitors to the Fiords had seen deer prints on the shores, but could not say what class of deer thev were. "I can now say," states Mr Moorhouse, "that these footmarks were made by either tho Elk or the Moose. Difrinp; the year 1909 ten moose were presented to the Government liy President Roosevelt (four bulls and six cows). These were liberated at the head of Dusky Sound in 1910. Rough Voyage in Cutter.

"As the Sounds are not visited by any regular steamer service," states tho report, "it was* necessary to go there in a small sailing boat. On February 12th we left the Bluff in a cutter—Mr Wadsworth (a representative of the Southland Acclimatisation Society), Mr L. Hinge (photographer), and myself, and three men in charge of the cutter. After clearing the Bluff Heads the wind increased, and it was necessary to run Stewart Island for shelter. AVe arrived there at 1 a.m., and anchored in Bravo Bay, ( remaining in Stewart Island until the morning of the 16th, when a start was made for Puysegur Point. After a rough passage we arrived at the lighthouse at 3 a.m. on the 17th. We anchored that night in Dusky Sound. Next day, the 18th, we arrived at Thompson Sound—the .weather was still bad —and then put on to George's Sound, reaching there on the 20th. We pushed through to Lake Alice, and found many new traces of deer. Tracks were found leading in all directions." On the 21st we went on to Katherine Creek and worked our way to Lake Katherine. After two hours of rough travelling we arrived at the lake and made round to l tho western end. "Here wo were rewarded by tho sight of a fine Wapiti hind, which, not getting our wind, Mr Hinge was enabled to, photograph before, it made away into tho dense bush. On our return to the western end of the lake Mr Hinge picked up on the shores a cast antler. Here again were traces of many deer. Wo returned by a different route. Tracks were seen everywhere we went. .

Many Tracks Founfl. "On the 22nd wo went up the Southern Arm and through the bush to Lake Marchant, where tracks and eaten bushes were seen showing that the deer .in this liicalty are fairly numerous. During the return journey we disturbed a deer, and concluded from its warning bark that it was a hind. We saw its new tracks, but nothing,of the animal. On our return we learned that one of the sailors, while in the bush, had picked ud a very large and massive cast antler. On the 23rd we left iri the afternoon for Carswell Sound, and on the 24th visited the southern end of Lake Marchant. Here again tracks were seen which showed that the elk had become well established and were increasing. " After-'being delayed at Carswell by heavy weather for a day, the party pushed on to Thompson Sound, around a head of, Bradshaw Sound, but found no indications of deer. During the next two days they examined land at the head of Hall's Arm, but the deer had apparently not spread there. On the 2nd instant they anchored at Harbour Islands in Breatsea Sound and worljetl up through the heavy • bush towards Beach Hill. No signs were seen there. At Wet Jacket Ann, at the head of the Sound, they came across tlie first Moose tracks. A Very Large Animal "Here," says Mr Moorhouse, "we found tracks, and trees that had been barked. On the 4tli we went to Supper Cove, the spot where the Moose were first liberated. Well beaten tracks followed alona v the banks of the Seaforth river. Whilfe on the tracks we heard the bark of a startled deer, and later on we came to where it had joined the .tracks, and saw from its hoof prints in the mud that it was' a .very large animal. A small one was following it—probably a cow with its young. We made in the direction of Loch Maree, but were blocked from going further by a.steep ravine, so had to return.- On vie next day (18th) the ruin had cleared,. and, provided with a rope, wo made another start for the lake and crossed the ravine by means of a rope After seven hours of the roughest travelling possible wo arrived at Loch Maree, Dut although tracks and eaten, bushes were found in great numbers there were no signs of Moose. The principal bark'food seemed •to consist of Nnmaka tree and young shoots and, ends of the tree fern. On some trees the bark had been taken off to u height of twelve feet, and cleancut hoof marks were seen, Measuring six and a half inches wide and five inches long." On the 7th, after further delays from rain and -wind, Mount Solitary was reached, where Moose tracks were picked up, and in the afternoon *ht the head of Sportsman Cove, the' party saw two deer pass from the bills to the swamp. Through his glassos Mr Moorhouse picked out a large hind. He rowed in the boat to the spot and examined' the tracks and found tlicm to be the.imprints of a large deer and young one. On his return to tho boat he learned that the other members of the party had seen three others come into the open, and Mr WadswOrth was of opinion that thev were but at the dbtanco mijjht have mistaken them for Moose. After this Preservation Inlet and Chalky Inlet were visited, the operations being much interfered with by bad weather. Xo further indications were seen. Preservation Inlet was left on the 13th, and on the way to the Bluff the boat's propeller was lost in a gale. The Bluff harbour, however, was made safely under sail. ' Difficult Stalking Country. "From the information gained," states Mr Moorhouic, "it is clear that the animals are now well established i:i this locality and have become well acclimatised to thp rough country, whiih affords them so groat protection from a stalker's'point of view, 'i he suc;e sful stalker here must be one who is willing to contend with hardships unheard of in other parts of the Dominion —hardships such as being drciuhcd to .the skin daily by heavy rains, crossing quickly-flooded rivers, and camping out m dense wet bush. These conditions will have to be contended with until "3uch time as tracks arc made from the various arms of the Sounds to such, points as Te Anau, Manapouri,\ and Monowai, where reasonable arrangements can be made to visit the locality."