ROD AND GUN. [By Fiei u-Sport.J

Evening Post, Volume LIX, Issue 112, 12 May 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)

ROD AND GUN. [By Fiei u-Sport.J

The report to bo presented at the annual meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society nuxt Thursday evening is an inU'ivstuig document, and in inoht ruspcuts given good grounds for congratulation. There is v very satisfactory (.Todit-biihiuce ; tho Society has shown enteipriso in tho introduction of Virginian quail ; it is plain that no effort is boing spared to improve the opportunities for trout fishing, and the chunoes for securing good sport ; and the deer slaughtering question has received attention. All these are indications that the Council of the Society and its executive officers are alive to their responsibilities, and that they have met with a very fair amount of success in carrying out their work during the year. It is a matter for sincere regret, however, that the efforts of the Society to secure a later date for the opening of the shooting season for native game were without effect. "The re&ult," to use the words of the report, "has, unfortunately, been that a large number of immature birds not yet done breeding have fallen victims to the greed of so-called sportsmen. Reports have been received from all parts of the country, stating that the majority of pigeons shot were simply animated bags of bones, whilst the majority of the ducks were half-fledged flappers. At this rate, the final extinction of native game cannot bo very far off." In view of this state of things it is. to be, hoped that the acclimatisation societies of the colony will not desist in their efforts, and that they will be listened to with more respeot next season. Compiaints concerning poaching are continually being made, but the rangers in the district, at any rate, do not ap: pear to meet with much success in detecting cases. The. Otaki Mail of a recent date writes: — "We are sorry to say that during the past week or two numbers of unprincipled sportsmen have been shooting imported game wholesale. It is » pity that an example has not been made of such, for it is very hard on those who pay for their licenses, and observe the rules of shooting strictly, to see others defy the }aw openly. It is to be hoped that in future the authorities will see the wisdom of declaring the seasons for native and imported game open simultaneously." Following up his interesting notes of last week "Stalker" writes : — One of the characteristics of the present Government is not knowing when it is beaten, therefore, I hope they will remain true to this virtue in regard tb the importation of moose. It is very unfortunate that ten should have been drowned in the recent effort to import this grand deer, and to strengthen the small herd of four which was 'successfully landed, I would suggest that arrangements be made to endeavour to procure and land, a further shipment after next calving. I would a'iso recommend for consideration of the Government the advisability of enclosing any future lots in deck houses similar to those in which racehorses are conveyed, so as to avoid risk of drowning in rough weather ; also that they should be sent by the 'Frisco route, thereby avoiding transhipment in Australia. Wapiti and Caribon are both obtainable in America, and they both afford grand sport and good food. Our country is well adapted to these varieties of deer, and their importation and acclimatisation would be heralded with joy by very many New Zealanders. The question is well worthy of the serious consideration of the Government. Then Roebuck are readily obtainable in Great Britain, and can be transported as easily as domestic goats — they are perfectly harmless, beautiful creatures, and would form a very choice addition to our food supplies. Mr. L. F. Ayson, late Curator of the Masterlbon Fish Ponds, writes :—'"ln: — '"In Rod and Gun column last Saturday you publish some extracts from an article appearing in the Wairarapa Daily Times on the Masterton Fish Ponds. In speaking to an interviewer, the Curator is reported to have said with reference to the hatching apparatus used in the past "You could only examine the top one, and the consequence must have been that thousands upon thousands of the young fish must have been lost." Such a statement shows that the person making it did not in the least understand the apparatus he was condemning ; as every tray can be easily examined as often as necessary. Tha merest amateur in fish culture, but who possesses a fair amoun.t of common-sense would never think of placing hatching trays in such a position that they could not be examined. The results obtained refute the assertion that thousands upon thousands "must have been lost." Sensible innovations are always good. There are a great variety of boxes and trays used in hatching fish ova ; some fish-cultur-ists favour one kind and some mother. The trays now being introduced by the Curator, are used in several hatcheries "in Europe and England with good results. For the Wellington Acclimatisation Society's sake I will be glad to hear that better results have been attained at the Masterton Hatchery than formeily." With respect to the above, Field Sport can bear out Mr. Ayson's very legitimate reference to his success when in charge of the fish hatcheries at Masterton, and that the Acclimatisation Society appreciated his value can be seen from the very eulogistic remaiks in this year's report. Now we are in close touch with Africa, perhaps it would be possible to obtain a few pairs of snringbok wherewith to ornament some of our waste plains. They make better targets than the ordinary bull's-eye for teaching proficiency in the u?e of the rifle, as witness our present foe — the Boer. The majority of stalkers are agreed that owing to indiscriminate slaughter of deer a restriction should again be placed on the <number allowed to be shot by each license holder ; four being considered a sufficiently large number to satisfy genuine sportsmen. j^lany of, them suggest that no head carrying less than twelve points should be shot. Two men charged at Dannevirke last week with shooting pheasants out of season were each fined £5 and ordered to pay costs. Fines of this kind .should act as a wholesome deterrent on would-be poachers. (Since the above was written a. similar fine has been imposed at Featherston on a man named O'Keefe, for duck shooting out of season). The Eketahuna Express reports that wild caittle and wild pigs are numerous on parts of the Tararua Ranges, also that pigeons and kakas are plentiful in the Pongaroa district. There is one regrettable omission from the annual report of the local Aclimatisation Society — namely, any reference to poaching. While one hears reports of poaching from almost every direction, and whereas in other parts of the colony prosecutions are of frequent occurrence, here, in the Wellington district, the detection of offenders is a rare occurrence. Ib is ridiculous to pretend that poaching is not practised here ; that the morality of those who live in the vicinity of Wellington is superior to that of residents in other parts of the colon y, or that opportunity is lacking. If the Society imagines that it can afford to ig-

nore tho amount of poaching that goes on it is mistaken, for nollung annoys the legitimate license-holder muro than, to Jind that unlicensed persons are undisturbed in Ihoir law bieaking. If more rangers tiro needed they should be appointed. Mr. John Walker informs the Wanganui Hera/ld that largo numbers of dead harus are lying about the country. The animals have evidently suffered from internal trouble, as in every case the stomach and entrails show evidence of diseaso, which also caused the fur to come off tho backs of the hares before death. Mr. Walker states that he has never, iv his long experience, seen such a mortality from disease among hares, and is at a loss to account for it.