SPORT IN NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12328, 21 July 1903, Page 5

SPORT IN NEW ZEALAND.

alterations IN FISHING AND Shooting REGULATIONS.

DEPUTATION TO SIR JOSEPH WARD. [BY. TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL COMeSPONIJEJJT.] ■■■: Wellington, Monday. fan Government if* apparently fully ftlivo to the importance in such a colony as Now Zealand of having good trout fishing and also of catering for those who prefer the gun to the rod. At present the trout fishing season is from October 1 to the end 1 of April, and it is now proposed to shorted the season by making it close oh April 15, because it has been found that towards the end of April the fish are generally; full of spawn. It is also intended to have a uniform' license of £1 available all over the colony. It is also proposed to change the shooting season for, deer. In future it will start oft March 1 and end oil April 30. It is intended to alter the system of issuing licenses. In wellstocked districts £1 licenses will be issued, enabling the holder to take four heads, and there will be available £10 licenses, enabling the holder to take eight heads. This latter will no doubt m&et the requirements of sportsmen from England and other distant countries, many of whom now travel thousands of miles for the New Zealand fishing and deer stalking, and who; besides advertising the colony spend considerable sums of money in it. In newly-stocked districts the number of heads to be taken will be limited to two, arid a limit, will also bo imposed in regard to the number of licenses to be issued. No one will bo allowed to shoOt any stag less than a ten pointer, and in regard to fallow deer sportsmen Will be 1 SuppoSed to confine themselves only to heads mat are Well matured. / . Sir Joseph Ward, who to-day received a deputation of delegates representative of the acclimatisation soceties of the colony, showed a disposition to do all he could in the interests of the acclimatisation of game and fish iii New Zealand. ■ # > The question of uniformity in connection with the shooting season was discussed by the deputation. It was pointed out that the season was much later in the South than in the North, and that April 1 was much too early a date for the opening of the season. Mr. Fisher said that the experience of the last two or three years had shown that a largo number of ducks immature and even unable, to fly were killed in the month of April. The destruction was such that in a few years, if this, were continued, such game would practically become extinct. The society were unanimous in declaring for May 1 instead of April 1, for the opening of the season. Sir Joseph Ward said that the statement bore out the information ho had before him. There could be no doubt that April was a month too soon. His OWn opinion was that the season should begin on May 1 arid end on July 31. Mr. Russell said that during the last season or two the young ducks were so immature at the beginning of April that many of them fell a prey even to the dogs, while pigeons had actually been Shot on their nests at the beginning of the season. If that went on much longer game in Southland would be exterminated.

[BY TKLEOBAI'H.—rRESS ASSOCIATION'.] Wellington, Monday. A deputation from the Acclimatisation Societies' Conference waited on Sir J. G. Ward to-day and placed before him the resolution carried at Saturday's meeting. Sir Joseph, in reply, said it was intended to fix the period for shooting game from May 1 to July M. The December shooting season would commence on December 1 and end on March 1. * The fishing season would he changed from Octpbe-i ito April 15. The necessity of.arranging more Seasonable dates for Otago and Southland would bo considered.