SPORT IN NEW ZEALAND.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 248, 6 April 1910, Page 5

SPORT IN NEW ZEALAND.

The English Mallard Duck An interesting report rceently made by Mr Cecil A. Whitney to the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, in respect to the progress of English mallard duck in New Zealand, is reproduced below. Mr Whitney is _ enthusiastic in his ambition to acclimatize the mallard, and has personally borne the whole cost of rearing and distributing the duck. This season, Mr Whitney obtained no less than 220 eggs from four ducks and one drake, and managed to hatch 94 per cent, of these with ordinary barn-door hens. He has himself kept back twenty mallard for breeding purposes, and hopes to liberate no less than 500 mallard duck next season. The English mallard duck should certainly be welcomed in New Zealand by all those who cultivate diversity of sport and want something worth eating. The American mallard, foe example, comes next to the canvas-back in the estimation of the man who knows a good thing when it is put before him. The English mallard duck is a bird with plenty of go about him, and can always give the guns good shooting. It, moreover, makes an excellent cross with the gray duck. Mr,, Whitney is unquestionably to be congratulated upon what he has already done in the interests of acclimatisation. We certainly think that he will win through with the English mallard duck, and so benefit both sport and the table to a very material extent. The mallard is rather a large bird, and the drake in particular has most beautiful plumage. One often hears soldiermen speak of the excellent sport they have had with the mallard duck in Morocco and in India. If we mi itake not, it also prevails in Egypt. Remuera, February 9th, 1910. The secretary Auckland Acclimatisation Soceity. bir, —I beg to review my experiences in connection with the acclimatisation of the English mallard duck in the Auckland province. You might care to embody the result of my efforts in your- forthcoming annual report. During the last three years I have successfully hatched and reared somewhere about 300 mallard duck, besides which a large quantity of duck eggs have been distributed to friends in various parts of the Auckland province. Out of the first lot of mallards reared, about forty-five were placed on St. John's lake, but owing to the shooting both in and out of season, I regret to say so far as" I can ascertain none have survived. I also sent Mr Main 3 several pair of which there are a few left at the present time, but they have been kept from wandering to St. John's lake, which probably accounts for their being alive. The mallard duck have been distributed by me in the following localities:—Cambridge lake, Hamilton lake, Henderson, Kopu, Thames, Wairamarama, Rotorua, Dargaville, Waiwera, Mercury Bay and Ranigriri lake, and amongsc friends in districts too numerous to mention. The reports from Cambridge last year were exceptionally good, and I would suggest you write to Mr Hartley, secretary ot the Domain Board, and obtain his report as to how they have done this last season and the number at present on the lake. I have not sent any to Cambridge this season. The balance of this'season's hatching (about forty) will be liberated on Rangiriri lake almost immediately, and it is to be hoped they will do well. I have found it most desirable to wait till the duck can fly well before liberation; it gives them.a better chance. The duck are from the stock imported by Major Whitney from Annesley Park, Nottingham, England, some years ago, and presented to your society by him; they have been mixed with a strain presented to me by the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, but I do not know where the Wellington mallard duck originally came from. This season from four ducks and one drake I obtained 220 eggs and hatched 94 per cent,, of the eggs set, all of which were hatched by the ordinary barn-door hens. As a whole, the reports to hand show that the mallard liberated have done well with, the exception of St. John's lake, where they should have proved the greatest success. I would suggest that shooters and sportsmen be warned by your Society in the public press (local and country) that the English mallard duck is not open for shooting at any time of the year, and referred to the Animals' Protection Act, under which these birds' are protected until the Governor-in-Council declares they can be shot in the proper season. A description of the duck and drake should also be given, I regret to say my Hungarian partridges have not so far been a success; two birds laid about thirty-five eggs, 85 per cent, of which were fertile; but most of the young birds only lived a few hours, one or two several days. This is probably due to their having laid so soon after the voyage from England. I hope next year to be more successful. My paradise duck have not so far begun to lay, but it is expected they will next spring. I have kept twenty mallard for breeding purposes, and should have a large number of young bird j and eggs to distribute next season. (Signed) CECIL A. WHITNEY.