GAME BIRDS AND DEER.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20551, 20 May 1932, Page 4

GAME BIRDS AND DEER.

BREEDING AND CULLING. ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY'S REPORT. The work of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society in breeding and importing game birds, and liberating them throughout its district, is reviewed in tho annual report of the Society, to be presented at its meeting on May 25th. The report also deals with native game birds, and with the success of tho recent culling of the deer herd. "The year's operations of the Game Committee have been the most interesting and progressive since the Society ■was established, and with tho facilities and breeding stock now available, not only will additional game be available, but the supply will be able to be maintained," states the report. "Tht?rc have been numerous difficulties to overcome. At the commencement of its term of office the committee decided that in view of the difficulty • in obtaining permits to import or even transfer game birds from one part of New Zealand to another, it would endeavour to secure pheasants and quail in Canterbury, and build up a stock of birds to breed from. . "The work of building pens, rues, coops, etc., is virtually completed, and with a few minor addinons, and the purchase of the necessary plant and equipment to handle the eggs that will be available this year, there is no doubt whatever that the work undertaken by tho committee will bo reflected in "the game that will be available for liberation in the near future. "Twenty-four hen and seven cock pheasants were purchased, and laying commenced in November. Several birds were also reared on the grounds, and our present stock is over 160 birds. It was decided to keep all the hen birds and liberate tho surplus cock birds with the view of securing fresh blood for breeding purposes next 'season. i Quail and. Ghukor. "Quail were caught too late in the season for successful breeding purposes, and only 10 hen and li cock birds were secured. The breeding of these birds Has been most successful, and our present stork is. 78 birds. "Out of tho 200 clmkor ordered from Quetta, Baluchistan, 189 arrived safely in the grounds. These birds soon adapted themselves to the new conditions, and, 7-1 brace wore liberated. f "The remainder have been kept for brooding purposes. This bird ranks high in tho list of game birds in a country that is remarkable for its supply of game birds, and it is hoped that sportsmen will givp it all the protection that will ensure its successful acclimatisation. In its nativo habitat it is easily domesticated, and very proline. The methods of breeding from similar types of birds in other countries are definitely known, and tho breeding of this bird in captivity should bo quite successful. The chukor enjoys the high country, and .is definitely a lion grain eater. "Tho permit to import stubble quail unfortunately came to hand too late to be of any use. An order was been definitely placed for 50 brace, and theso birds should bo hero in ample time for next breeding season. This bird is considered in Australia to be a fino sporting bird, and possesses all the good qualities of tho Californian quail. Tho Shooting Season. "The shooting season opened on May Ist, 1931, with broken weather from tho southern quarter. Many sportsmen obtained the limit of 25 birds, whilo bags of two to ten brace were common. Quite good sport was obtained throughout tho season. Black swan were plentiful, and largo numbers fell to tho shooters.. Larger numbers of young birds than have been soon for some seasons were reported to have been noticed by shooters. Canadian geese wcro more numerous than ever, and traded quite well throughout the soason. Very few Californian quail wero reported to have been taken, as many sportsmen denied themselves tho opportunity of obtaining good bags. The partial rest, and tho dry season, should afford bright prospects for pho coming season. "A fair number of godwits and knots were seen bofore tho opening of the season, but no large bags are reported to have been taken. Some of the birds»shot on the opening day were not in very good condition, but those taken during February aud March were in perfect condition. The, season can only bo classed as fair, and there is apparently no reason why these birds are not to be seen in the numbers that used to frequent Lake Ellesmcre some yeai's ago. Wekas and Pukeko. The Native Birds Committee reports that a further consignment of six pairs of wekas was received from the Chatham Islands. The birds arrived in,.excellent condition, and were all liberated above Lake Sumner, where they appear to have settled down satisfactorily. The committee is of,the opinion that tho Lake Sumner area could be successfully stocked with wekas if liberations arc carried out from time to time. There is no doubt that the successful establishment of these interesting .birds in that sanctuary would be a great asset to one of Canterbury's future holiday resorts. "A number of pukeko were obtained from Lake Ellesmere, and liberated in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, and at Avonhcad. Those in the Gardens are now quite at home, and create considerable interest amongst many of the visitors. The committee is greatly indebted to Mr James Young, Curator of thj Gardens, for sanctioning the liberation of pukeko there, and also for tho interest ho has taken in them. Although the Council made application for a limited season for pukeko, the Department declined to approve tho recommendation. Canadian Geese not Protected. "During the year the Department removed Canadian geese from the protected list; This- was considered by the Council to be a most serious ■ decision, not so much as the removal of a sporting bird from the ever* decreasing list, but as a means of opening an avenue for all sorts of abuses of the gaming laws. However, a deputation fronn the Council waited upon the Honourable the Minister for Internal Affairs, who very sympathetically considered its views, with the result that all that area east of the Main South Line came within the scope of the Act from January let to August Ist of each year. "The Soeiety has now at Greenpark one of the largest and most up-to-date hatcherics and bird-breeding establishments in the Dominion. The hatchery has a capacity of two million ova, and has every facility for the carrying out of the work of the Society for ma»y years to come. The bird pens are of the latest design, and here again eyery consideration has been given for the. breeding and care of the birds. The Curator is provided with a five-roomed cottage, with every convenience,- a motor garage, and workshops. There is also • a two-roomed cottage that will in future be occupied by the gamekeeper recently appointed. The grounds at Greenpark have been planted in nativo trees, which, in spite of the very dry season, avo doing fairly well,

Gulling of Deer. , "Tlic task of reducing the numbers of the deer herd has been steadily proceeded with, and altogether, approximately 1500 head have been destroyed in the twelve months. The" Ranger accounted for 176. Nine hundred and i thirty-four were killed by contract,' and j stalkers destroyed 14 —-"the rather small I tally being accounted for by the very unfavourable weather experienced *dur- J ing the stalking seson. The Department of Internal Affairs also put a party into the head of the Eakaia, and onthe Society's 'side of the river destroyed 460 head. \ "Since 1926 over 11,000 head have been destroyed at a cost of over £ISOO. ; Further heavy culling will be under- [ taken by contract in tho coming year, during, the months of July, August, and September —tho most favourable time for the work. c "For the first time many years a block was allotted to an overseas sportsman, Colonel Lister, who had a most successful trip and brought out three good heads, an 11-pointer (length 45} In; spread, J?9iin; beam sjin), a 13-pointer (length, 43fin; spread, 38Jin; beam, 6 3-Bin), and a 21-pointer (length, 39 3-Bin; spread, 34 5-Bin; beam, 5 3-Bin). , "Colohel Lister spoke in glowing terms of his trip and freely intends coming out to New Zealand again. When his are exhibited at Home it i should be an excellent advertisement | for the forest, and we hope will induce other overseas sportsmen to pay a visit." Finances pf the Society. Tho Mnance Committee's report sets out that though game licenses fell away by £l2, compared with the previous year, fishing licenses increased by £IOO. The total revenue was £2728 10s 6d, compared with £2845 5s for the previous yeai'j and the general expenses, apart >from the new property account were £2636 14s sd, as against £2999.35. The assets of the Society exceed the liabilities by £6291 10s 2d. The report places on record the Society's appreciation of tlie long and faithful service of Mr D. Hope, who acted as curator for the Society .for 37 years, and who retired last year. The report, which also covers tho work of the Freshwater Research Committee, already published in The Press, concludes'by thanking all who have assisted the Society in its work.