DESTRUCTION OF SHAGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21990, 22 December 1934, Page 15

DESTRUCTION OF SHAGS

Sir, —I nder the above heading in your issue of December ]8 Messrs. L. Foster, J. S. Johnston and E. Foster state that shags live entirely on eels. I am not an authority on shags, but have shot them in both islands and have often watched them fishing. I have seen them catch trout, carp, tench, flat fish, fresh water crayfish and eels. From my observations I believe shags rarely take edls except in tidal estuaries, shallow mud-bottomed lakes and lagoons. George Odey. , Whakamnrama.

Sir, —With reference to the reply to our letter by the secretary of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, it appears that our renort is criticised rather than welcomed. When we visited the lake on Tuesday, December 11, we estimated that at least 000 rounds of shotgun, ammunition and about 1000 rounds of pea-rifle ammunition had been discharged. We were unawtire that this year the society had not subsidised the funds and ammunition for this shoot. Last year the chief ranger approached us to advise him where the shags' nesting grounds were, giving us the impression that a shoot was to be arranged. On a small island of about a quarter of an acre adjacent to the shag shooting grounds we counted last nesting season 128 deserted swan nests. These nests contained from three to eight eggs. We can produce at least six reputable licence holders who can confirm this statement. Waikare is unquestionably a favourite nesting ground for swan, duck and other native birds. We persist, in our statement that shags are of local habits and those frequenting trout streams mentioned should be destroyed. We have shot principally on Lake Waikare for the last 2") years and have taken an intelligent interest in game conditions on the lake. L. Foster.

.1. S. .Johnston E. Foster.