SPORT IN ALL LANDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19349, 9 December 1924, Page 4

SPORT IN ALL LANDS.

A, GREAT HUNTER’S EXPERIENCES. “ROUND THE WORLD WITH ROD AND RIFLE.” (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, October 16. Seven journeys round the world in 20 years and special tours through Canada, the United States, Central Africa, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Sea Islands—this is th© record of Major P. M. Stewart, who has now been prevailed upon to publish a volume recounting his experiences as a fisherman and a hunter in many lands. It is quite true that the public never tiros of moving adventure by flood and field, and “Round the World with Rod and Rifle” (Thornton Butterwqrth. Ltd., 21s) is a book packed full of information regarding the wild life of land and sea.

In an introduction, Colonel J. L. Sleeman, who was Director of Military Tramming- in New Zealand fnoin 1916 to 1921, maintains that Major Stewart ia “representative of the best type of sportsman, and the charm of his book lies only partly in his accurate descriptions of the beasts and fishes. Not only does he introduce us to the various kinds of sport to be bad in each country, but he also gives Us a good description of its scenery, people, and customs.”

This is quite true. While there is apparently no effort to toll other than a plain tale, the author, 'by means of a humorous story or a few words of comment, introduces us to a large number of interesting people, not to mention beasts and_ fish with individualities of their own. Major Stewart also displays a captivating charm in speaking quite’ frankly of his weak moments in the face of threatening beasts, his misses with rifle, or the joy he has sometimes felt when a monster • of the deep whom he has played for an hour or more has the strength or cunning to got away.

There are chapters dealing with sport in New Zealand. Major Stewart stalked the fallow deer in the Tapanui district, and went pig shooting in country not far from Dunedin. , His trout fishing extended over both islands, from the Pomahaka in the south to the thermal district in the north. But ho was not above fishing for the humble eel atf well. POACHING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Major Stewart is constrained to devote a few pagog to what he calls “respectable poaching” in Now Zealand. “There are taws there as in other lands relating to birds, game, and fish,” he says, “and rangers or gamekeepers are paid by the Government, in addition to the police, for tiro purpose of seeing that they are enforced; but the country ig too large and wild for these men, however conscientious, to control. I have already refrred to the poaching done by Maoris, which is, of course, second nature; but scores of white men are just as bad. Anyone who shoots or fishes much wijl observe many instances of trout being done to death at night with spear, guff, and net ; shot with the rifle; and dynamited wholesale both in season and out of season. Hinds and fawns are not spared; hen pheasants are constantly fired at, though only cocks may be killed; and rare birds are not respected. There have been several oases of deer, which were turned down to bred, being ruthlessly shot. The number of those who carry guns and fishing rods without a license is legion in spite of the very moderate sum that Is demanded." *

TTie story of the Maori poacher is worth recording: “A Maori, who was walking near a river, was asked 'by a pakeha if there were any fish in it. ‘Oh, yes,’ said the Maori, ‘plenty.’ ‘How do you know?’ continued the srtanger. ‘Oh, I catch some big ones yesterday,’ replied the Maori. ‘Do you know who I am?’ said the stranger. Tam tho ranger. Where is your license?’ ‘And do you know who I am? 1 retorted the Maori, not at all abashed. ‘No,’ said tho other. ‘Oh, I am a blooming liar. I not fish at all!’ ” Another chapter is devoted to stalking red deer in various parts of the dominion. It was in the Rotorua district that the author shot a beautifully even 16-pointer, the head weighing, when cleaned, 201 b. Besides tho more orthodox sport, Major Stewart hod experiences in Auckland waters of shark fishing and sword fishing. Really horrible monsters of the sea, however, he found more common in the waters round Honolulu. For bait a dead horse i 9 procured and towed out to sea, and the actual killing of tho sharks is done with an iron spear. In Mexco he caught a sawfish 17ft Sin long and weighing 28001 b.

Probably the most interesting part of the book is that devoted to big game shooting in Central Africa. The habits of elephants, buffalo, rhinoceros, crocodiles, and hippopotami present a very fascinating study. Other chapters are devoted to adventures with man-eating lions, to tarpon fishing in Mexico, salmon fishing in Norway and other beasts and fish which the ordinary reader has never hoard of before. Besides bejng a hunter, Major Stewart is a photographer, and not the least interesting part of the volume is the very fine collection of pictures illustrating his trophies, alive and dead, and the daily life in the wilder regions of the world.