MORE PHEASANTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22391, 11 April 1936, Page 13

MORE PHEASANTS

LIBERATION ON FARMS POOR FISHING SEASON ACCLIMATISATION REPORT The liberation of pheasants on closed farms to ensure at least one year's breeding without molestation was partly responsible for the increase in pheasants which has been noted throughout the society's territory, states the annual report of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society.

Some sub-societies had desired to depart from the policy of liberation on form lands, partly because some landowners who took birds under this scheme selfishly reserved the shooting from the public, stated the report. During the year steps were taken by the council to place the breeding of pheasants by private individuals on a proper basis, and to have the conditions under which birds are reared and offered to the society for purchase under control, while the illicit selling of pheasants was checked.

In the early part of last season opossum trnppers were handicapped by wet "\yeather, but later in the season good results were obtained. Forty-eight trappers took out licences, and 78 season permits were issued to landowners, resulting in 15,000 skins being obtained Prices for skins showed an increase over the previous year.

Fishing generally had been poor during the season, as the rivers had been flooded and discoloured for weeks at a time as a result of continued wet weather. Some good bags had been taken, however, in the Waikato below Arapuni, and in the Waihou. The result of the poor fishing was reflected in the sales of licences, £771 being received, as against £845 in the previous year. As there was still a month to go before the end of the season it was expected that this decrease would bo considerably lessened.

With the establishment of the society's own hatchery, the council dedecided to purchase 1,000,000 ova from the Government hatchery at Tokaanu. Fry to the number of 170,000 were placed in the holding ponds at Te Kuiti, Otorohanga, Horahora, Te Awaumtu and Taumarunui, and with one exception results were extraordinarily good. Hatching operations were attended Avith very little loss and liberations of 628,250 fry were made direct to various streams. As the fry grew in size 200,000 were transferred to the outside holding ponds.