GROUSE OR QUAIL?

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18545, 21 November 1925, Page 17

GROUSE OR QUAIL?

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE rEESS." Sir,—l notice with interest the proposal of tho Acclimatisation Society to import roughed and tin-tail grouse. This is no doubt a step in the light direction, as I am sure every true sportsman has wondered when the Society would make a move to do something for the shooters. It has been my pleasure during the last few days to travel over many miles of this beautiful nrovincc, and I have viewed the hundreds of acres of broom, gorse. and iupin in the river-beds and on the waste lands. Broom, gorse, and lnpin seed are the natural food of the quail. This has made me wonder, as I have wondered many times, why the Society does not concentrate on the production of Californian quail. This grand little sporting bird has proved his ability to hold his own against all comers, and is actually on the increase in spite of bis neglect. I do not think any sportsman will deny that the Californian quail is one of the finest sporting birds in the world, and I honestly believe that with the extensive natural feeding grormds we have everywhere in Canterbury, tliat there is no reason why the quail-shooting in Canterbury should not be the very best in New Zealand. The Society have the funds now provided by the guns, and the shooters have every Teason to expect that this money shall be spent

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in improving the shooting. We al! know that quite a number of guns go away to other provinces to enjoy a little Californian quail shooting. I fail to see why our Society cannot raise five hundred per annum for liberation in the early spring. I feel sure if this were done for live years, they would be well enough established to take care of themselves. I would ask the Society what would become of Ibo lisbing if they were not continuously liberating large quantifies of vouiig troflt. While I am sorry to say it. I am afraid we cannot look for much from the Society until the guu men organise themselves aud put some more members ou the Council that have other interests than lisb. The time is at baud when the shooting men expect a more active campaign in providing some sort of wing shooting in Canterbnry. I am hoping that this letter may cause other sportsmen to give us their views, or that it. may be the means of awaking the Society's interest in this matter.— Yours, etc., SPRINGER.