TROUT LIBERATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23215, 8 December 1938, Page 18

TROUT LIBERATION

NGONGOTAHA ACTIVITY 5,350,000 FRY DISTRIBUTED 1 " » CAMPAIGN AGAINST SHAGS The improved facilities at the new trout hatchery-operated by the Department of Internal .Affairs at Ngongotaha made it possible for the officers of the department greatly to increase the number of liberations during tlio past season. The total number of fry sent out from tho hatchery to tho various lakes and streams of tho district this year totalled 5,000, as compared with 2,622,500 liberated during the previous year, when the old hatchery near Fairy Springs was still being operated. Approximately 1800 pheasant eggs havo been set during the past lew weeks at tho Ngongotaha Game Farm and between 500 and 600 havo already been hatched. In addition, a number of wild duck eggs are being hatched, while approximately 100 young birds havo been liberated. The conservator of fish and game, Mr. A. Kean, reports that the bounty offered some timo ago for shags' feet has had tho effect of increasing the destruction of these birds considerably. Every week a number of applications for tho bounty is dealt with, while in addition a considerable number of tho birds are destroyed by persons who do not bother to apply for payment for the feet. The destruction of hawks, however, has not been so satisfactory, the number of applications for tho bounty on hawks being disappointing.