MALLARD DUCK

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 118, 22 May 1939, Page 4

MALLARD DUCK

NEW GAME VENTURE

A new departure in the activities aY the game farm is the breeding of mallard duck, says the annual report of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. Mr. C. A. Whitney, of Auckland, presented the society with five hundred eggs, which were entrusted to a professional breeder for incubation, but for several reasons the success of this venture did not come up to expectations. However, about thirty matured birds . were reared and will be kept fpr : breeding;i^purposes. Experts say ■ihe^^re;'-;a^§^*:fii|e'; ;^ot of birds and it-is1 estimated*that,'.;.>giyen ordinary luck,'they should produce about five hundred ducks for liberation next year.

The decision to rear mallard duck is an attempt to meet the request for more';game. The growing.popularity of game shooting is increasing the problem regarding the supply of game, and it is felt that the liberation, of mallard duck will, in a measure;, relieve the situation. It is well'»-3&iown to shooting men that there: (are ; not sufficient "duck possies" to accommodate all the guns, therefore the mallard duck, being a bird that will not decoy, and that: is a frequenter of rivers and streams, must help very materially in the supply of game. To many shooting men the mallard has a greater appeal than the grey duck; in so far that in addition to its reluctance to decoy, it may be "flushed" with a good water dog. In fact, it is an excellent bird to shoot over a dog, and really conforms to the field type of shooting rather than that; of ing from a maimai. - • | ;,