QUAIL SEASON SHORTENED

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22590, 21 December 1938, Page 12

QUAIL SEASON SHORTENED

BAG LIMIT ALSO DECREASED

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY'S

DECISION

A curtailment of the quail-shooting season to one month and a reduction of the limit bag to seven birds a day for next shooting season was decided upon by the council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society last evening. The game committee's recommendation that a closed season for quail be declared was not adopted. The recommendation was not favoured by Mr G. Ebert, chairman of the game committee, who said that a friend of his had recently reported that there were thousands of quail on his property. A close season did not appear to be justified. "Quail are decreasing in our district," said Mr W. J. Mac Gibbon. "A close season is the only way we will get quail back. Our efforts at breeding have been far from successful. Trapping for breeding purposes resulted last time in the magnificent total of 20 birds."

Mr L. L. Wyles advocated caution in imposing a close season. The climate probably had more influence than shooting, and a close season would inflict hardship on shooters and would serve no good purpose. The main enemy of quail was vermin, and any attempt at increasing quail would necessitate some programme of vermin control.

"Bags have been getting smaller for 10 years." said Mr H. T. Penrose. "We have had to restrict fishing, though we have not liked doing so, and a close season will assist nature to re-establish quail. It is ridiculous to say that a close season will have no effect when we have not tried it."

Mr C. H. Lawrence suggested that a compromise might be reached by cutting down the season and the bag limit.

Dr. D. McK. Dickson said that, according to the Minister, the Hon. W. E. Parry, quail were decreasing all over New Zealand. He suggested that some virus disease might be responsible. "I don't think it goes very well with an increase in the licence to £1 and then cut out quail shooting," he said. "We should have more evidence before we are panicked into a close season." "We have been able to raise only 90 chicks at the game farm this year," said Mr Penrose, "though quail breeding has been declared our main activity for the year. The situation is very serious, and I appeal to you to try a close season for one year." Mr Lawrence's amendment, the limiting of the season to June and the bag to seven birds a day, was carried.