PHEASANT EGGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26606, 31 October 1947, Page 7

PHEASANT EGGS

OVER ONE HUNDRED DAILY INCREASED LAYING AT GAME FARM “ The pheasants at the game farm are now laying over 100 eggs each day, said Mr L. Millar, manager of the Otago Acclimatisation Society, at the monthly meeting of the council last night. The rate of laying has speeded up considerably in the past fortnight," said Mr Millar, «• and the present results are excellent. The meeting was attended by Messrs S F. Aburn (chairman), J. A. Rhodes, A. Digby Smith, J. W. Smeaton G. v E. Turner, H. G. Williams, J. M. Patterson, J. A. Miller. I. Hodding, A. C. Kelly, L. Gurr, W. D. Flockton, J. A. White, W. R. O’Fee, and A. E. Hefford. The chairman of the Game Committee, Mr Turner, reported that the first pheasant eggs came to hand on September 30, and up to October 23 600 eggs had been collected A setting of 540 had been put in the incubator on October 21. Mr E. T. Stewardson, of East Taieri, had agreed to take 800 eggs when they became available, and, after hatching, to brood the birds from 8 to 10 weeks. Mr Stewardson was .very interested in the experiment, said Mr Turner, and if it was successful several hundred more pheasants would be available for liberation. “We now have a substantial nucleus of chukor at the game farm for breeding purposes,” said Mr Turner. “Mr J. Sanders, of Little Valley, brought down four birds which had been caught in rabbit traps, and there are now 13 chukor at the gaipe farm.” Liberation of Trout " The curator reported that all fingerlings had been liberated In the Lee Stream ana its tributaries,” said Mr J. M. Paterson, chairman of the Angling Committee. “ These fish were 11 months old, and quite well grown. The fry In the hatchery are being fed in boxes for about two weeks before bging released in the ponds, and are doing exceptionally well.” Mr Paterson said that the ranger had arranged shag drives in the Manuherikia, Styx, and Lauder districts, and a rookery had been investigated at Taieri Mouth. There were 14 nests but no sign of either eggs or shags in the vicinity. The Angling Committee had discussed the question of people reclaiming portion of the Tomahawk Lagoon, said Mr Patterson, and it had been decided to write to Mr R. K. Allen, of the Fisheries Laboratory. asking if he could expedite the decision to have the bed of the lagoon and the surrounding strip acquired as Crown lands.

It was also agreed to write to the Wyndham Town Board and the Automobile Association suggesting that an up-to-date camping ground would not only be a great service to anglers, but an asset to the town.