MALLARD DUCKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21576, 22 August 1933, Page 6

MALLARD DUCKS

INFORMATION SOUGHT DIVERSE VIEWS EXPRESSED Requests from the Internal Affairs Department and from the Wellington Acclimatisation Society for information regarding the mallard duck were received at the meeting of the council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society last week. The Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs wrote that opinions in the newspapers regarding the introduction of mallard ducks had been observed. The department, on several occasions, had granted permission to destroy these ducks, mainly drakes, in the South Island, but it was now suggested that the necessity for this arose only where birds were on ponds ind were either in captivity or were semi-tame. "It had been stated in press reports that apart from the danger in hybridisation, the mallard was very pugnacious and would not allow the grey duck to nest. He would be pleased to receive any information on the -subject the council might be in a position to supply. The Wellington Acclimatisation Society stated that it was the opinion of many of its members that the mallard duck should be bred for liberation. It was considered that it would not-inter-fere with the native duck in its wild state, and that little, if any, interbreeding was likely to take place; they had the authority for this statement from individuals who were competent to express an opinion. It had been learned from the Department of Internal Affairs that if such an application were made at present, permission would be refused, the reason being that the department had insufficient evidence of the habits of these birds to enable it to give a decision. . . Members expressed diverse opinions regarding the mallard duck, some nr£Tjing that it was not a good game bird, and others holding the opposite opinion. Some speakers considered that its greatest disadvantage was that it crossed with the grey duck with unsatisfactory results. It was decided to refer the letter# to the game committee to report on.