Shags Consume Trout

Northern Advocate, 28 July 1938, Page 10

Shags Consume Trout

Consumption of young trout by shags, which the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, has described as a menace to New Zealand fresh water fisheries, was under discussion when a deputation waited on the Minister recently. It was held that the shag did much more damage in the fishable lakes and streams of many districts than did the hawk among the game birds, and that an unrelenting war should be declared on both species. Mr. Parry said he agreed with the opinion expressed that both the shag and the hawk were a direct menace to the sport of fishing and shooting in the Dominion. Measures stronger than those adopted during the last two years seemed to be necessary to curb the two birds. “Run your eye over these returns,” remarked a member of the deputation, handing the Minister some papers with figures showing the stomach contents of a large number of shags taken in Canterbury, Otago and Southland and up at Mangaweka. “These figures,” he said, “will shock you and even the most ardent bird protectionist.” The return submitted showed that 108 young trout were found in the stomach of 54 shags shot at Pohangini and Mangawarariki. Some osO the trout were in length 3,4, 9. 12, and 18 inches. In the stomachs of 153 shags killed in Southland 944 trout of 3i to 15£ inches were revealed, and in the stomachs of 135 shags shot :n Otago 739 trout of 3 to 15 inches in length were discovered. There were 14 other returns containing similar information. The Minister said the returns would make bad reading for all anglers. He had had official returns also illustrating too clearly the heavy slaughter for which the shag was responsible, among trout. With the spirited cooperation of acclimatisation societies and others, it was felt, the Minister raid that a big inroad into the population of the shag could bo made. Additional measures regarding the birds were under consideration.