BIRDS LIBERATED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22405, 12 August 1947, Page 6

BIRDS LIBERATED

286 PHEASANTS EAST COAST DISTRICT FIRST SINCE WAR BEGAN The satisfactory liberation ,of 256 pheasants, the majority of which were cock birds, was made last week by the East Coast Acclimatisation Society in various areas, which virtually covered the whole of the society's district. At a recent meeting of the society it was reported that the birds were in excellent condition and particularly strong on the wing when liberated. This was somewhat unusual In every case the birds ha e only been liberated where there are congenial conditions for them to make themselves acclimatised It was stated that given reasonable luck the progeny of these birds should commence to restore the district's bird population to something nearer to what it was before liberation ceased owing to the war. The society intended to continue the policy of liberation with as large a number of birds as possible every year. The society's game farm manager Mr W. Hamon, was congratulated on the excellent result of his year's work. Help to Otago Society. As a gesture of sympathy with the Otago Acclimatisation Society, which lost the whole of its hatchery by fire some months ago, the East Coast society is dispatching to it 12 fine cock birds to build up the breeding stock again. Reports were also received regarding the fishing side of the society's activities and it was staled that trout ova had been received from the Rotorua hatchery, and distributed to district hatcheries at Ruakituri. Wharekopae and Hangaroa Reasonably satisfactory results with the ova were reported and the hope was expressed that satisfactory liberation of the fry would follow. The whole of the society's policy with regard to fishing activities is ( o be closely investigated prior to next season with a view to investigating what steps could be taken to imorove the general number and size of fish throughout the district.

With the significant increase in the number of people interested in fresh water fishing, the Fresh Water Fisheries Advisory Council is issuing a series of informative articles and these are to be published at a later date.