TROUT CONSUMED BY SHAGS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22434, 22 June 1938, Page 5

TROUT CONSUMED BY SHAGS

RETURNS SHOW DAMAGE TO FISHING DEPUTATION SEEKS HELP OP MINISTER : (PBES3 .ASSOCIATION. TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON. June 20. “The consumption of young trout by the shag, a bird which the Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister for Internal Affairs has described as a menace to New Zealand fresh-water fisheries, was the subject of considerable discussion during an interview a deputation had with the Minister to-day. It was held that the shag did much more damage in the fishable lakes and streams of many districts than did the hawk among game birds, and that unrelenting war should be declared on both species.

Mr Parry said he agreed with the opinion that both the shag and the hawk were a direct menace to the sport of fishing and shooting in the Dominion. Measures stronger than - those adopted during the last two years seemed to be necessary to curb the two birds.

“Run your eye over these returns,” remarked a member of the deputation handing the Minister some papers. “The

figures showing the stomach contents of a large number of shags taken in Canterbury, Otago, Southland, and up at Mangaweka will shock you and even the most ardent bird protectionist.” The return submitted showed that 108 young trout were / found ,in the stomachs of 54 shags shot at Pohangini and Mangawarariki. Some'of the trout were in length 3, 4, 9, 12, and 28 inches. In the stomachs' of 153 shags killed at Southland,. 944 trout, of 34 to 154 inches, were revealed. In the stomachs of 135 shags shot ip Otago, 739 trout, ; of 3 to 15-inches-in length, were discovered; There, were 14 other returns containing similar informationThe Minister said that the returns would make bad reading to all anglers. He had had official returns also illustrating too clearly the heavy slaughter by the shag among trout. With the spirited co-operation of acclimatisation societies and others, it was felt that a big inroad into the population of the shag could be made. Additional measures regarding the -birds were under consideration.