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Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 198, 23 May 1928, Page 6

An interesting report on the deerstalking conditions in the Manapouri district, which has wider application, from .Mr. Eric M. Russell, was read at a meeting of the Southland Acclimatisation Society (reports an exchange). "I found the deer extremely plentiful,” said .Mr. Russell, “and quite apart from the deer actually seen, the whole country side, both flats and bush, showed evidence of the existence of great numbers of animals. However, throughout the two .weeks I spent in the locality, during which the whole block jvas thoroughly combed, I saw only one head which a stalker would be proud to have as a trophy. Two explanations occurred to me to account for this marked deterioration, and of the two inbreeding is undoubtedly the more tenable. 1 o my mind the oilly way to improve the Manapouri herd would be to reduce drastically the number of animals and then introduce sires of desirable quality. I have used the word "reduce” rather than the term "cull,” as I do not think the latter term can be applied with accuracy to a deer herd in its wild state iu New Zealand native bush. Culling can be effected by the stock breeder without difficulty, as by yarding the animals, he has opportunities of close observation and can easily ascertain and eliminate tlie unsuitable specimens. With deer in their native state the question of judging at a distance whether a young animal should be dost roved or preserved is often a matter of difficulty. In addition to this, I understand the usual method is to pay for destruction on a royalty basis, and having regard to the frailty of human nature there is a great probability that everv animal within range will be destroyed regardless of whether it is a suitable specimen to perpetuate its kind. For these reasons, even if the number of animals is largely reduced, I. think the same proportion of poor specimens will still be left to perpetuate their kind, and 1 am personally of the opinion that money spent in reducing will be absolutely thrown riway unless it is intended to follow this up by the introduction of fresh animals of a suitable strain.

The first annual meeting nt the WeU iington Branch of the Howard Venal form I,eague will be belli iu the cioaril Room of the Dominion Farmer's Institute, on Thursday, at 8 p.m.